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After the release of Park Byung-hwa, a sex offender, the livelihood of Hwaseong City and public anxiety

From December 2002 to October 2007, Park Byung-hwa was arrested for sexually assaulting 10 women in their 20s after breaking into villas in Gwonseon-gu and Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, and served 15 years in prison before being released on October 31. His trick was to follow a woman who came home late at night and aim for the moment she entered the house. What's shocking is that among the women he sexually assaulted some were pregnant. Such a person was sentenced to only 15 years in prison and is now back into society. Park Byung-hwa, who went to prison in his early 20s, was released in his late 30s, and is considered to be highly concerned about re-offending because he is not even 40 yet.

After being released from prison, citizens living in Bongdam, Hwaseong, are anxious. The residence is a studio village in a university district, and Suwon University is only two to three minute walk from there. In addition, there are more than 1,500 studio apartments around. Protests continue every day, and residents' anxiety is growing day by day. However, residents are more anxious because they do not have the right to restrict their residence or going out under the current law. Currently, Hwaseong City is pushing for the forced eviction of Park Byung-hwa, but it is said that the possibility is too slim.

Regarding the release of Park Byung-hwa(40), a serial sexual assault criminal known as "Suwon Balbal" on October 29, Gyeonggi Province said, "We strongly oppose the residence of sex offenders in Gyeonggi Province." Gyeonggi Province has limitations in responding to the issue of sex offenders being released from prison and entering rehabilitation facilities in the region. Gyeonggi Province said, "We officially ask the Ministry of Justice to improve the current probation system, which makes citizens anxious every time sex offenders are released". Earlier on the 27th, Gyeonggi Province officially proposed to the Ministry of Justice to set a standard to restrict sex offenders from entering offenders' rehabilitation facilities adjacent to schools and children-related facilities.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon said in a parliamentary audit of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government on the 18th, "I spoke to the Minister of Justice (who was re-arrested just before his release) and expressed deep concern," adding, "I will consider the local situation and consult carefully." We hope that reasonable measures will be taken to quell the anxiety of local communities and residents as soon as possible.
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