Could Child Sex Offender Kim Geun-sik Be Released Next Year? “His Violent Tendencies Have Not Diminished”

[Financial News]  Amid reports that Kim Geun-sik, who is serving a sentence for serial sex crimes against children, could be released next year, a practicing lawyer has questioned whether he can be rehabilitated based on his past criminal record.
Attorney Son Su-ho explained Kim Geun-sik’s past criminal record in detail on CBS FM’s “Park Sung-tae’s News Show” on the 7th.
Kim Geun-sik committed a series of sex crimes against young female students in Incheon Metropolitan City and Gyeonggi Province from May to September 2006. Investigators found that he approached children on their way to or from school, deceived them by saying things such as “Please help the teacher” and “Please help me carry this,” and then committed the crimes.
Attorney Son said Kim Geun-sik’s crimes were repeated over a short period. He said, “This continued to happen. He committed serial sex crimes against children and adolescents 12 times over three months.” He added, “In particular, when you look at the methods and circumstances of the crimes described in the ruling, they are so horrific that you begin to wonder whether he can be called human. I cannot tell you everything, but the crimes became increasingly sophisticated and brutal.”
Kim Geun-sik also had a record of sex crimes against children before the 2006 case. Attorney Son said, “The 12 sex crimes against children are shocking and make my blood boil, but he had a prior conviction for a sex crime against a child.” He continued, “In 2000, he was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a child and served the sentence. He was released on May 8, 2006, and began committing serial sex crimes against children on May 24, just 16 days after his release. It makes no sense.”
Attorney Son explained that Kim Geun-sik’s criminal record dates back to 1985.
Regarding his early criminal record, Attorney Son said, “Beginning in 1985, he was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for three years, for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and other offenses. In November of the same year, he was again sentenced to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, for violating the same law and other offenses.” He added, “In 1986, he was sentenced to a maximum of four years and a minimum of three years in prison for the same and other charges.”
The violence-related punishments continued after he became an adult. In 1992, Kim Geun-sik was fined 300,000 won for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and other offenses. In 1994, he was sentenced to eight months in prison. He later received several additional fines and prison sentences for assault, violations of the same law, and other offenses.
Attorney Son criticized Kim’s repeated convictions for violence. He said, “For more than 10 years, he kept using violence and going around assaulting people without stopping.” He added, “Most of these were summary orders, meaning he did not even go to trial and simply paid a fine to end the matter. It is difficult to understand.”
Attorney Son also said Kim had been involved in assault incidents while incarcerated. “He caused problems several times even while serving his sentence,” Son said. Kim Geun-sik’s prison term was reportedly extended after he assaulted fellow inmates and prison officers beginning in 2013. Attorney Son said, “His violent tendencies have not diminished at all, even in prison. If anything, they seem to have become stronger.” He added, “We have no choice but to conclude that Kim Geun-sik cannot be rehabilitated.”
Kim Geun-sik was originally scheduled to be released upon completion of his sentence on October 17, 2022. However, another past sex crime against a child was uncovered, and he remains incarcerated after receiving a final five-year prison sentence for repeatedly assaulting fellow inmates and obstructing the execution of official duties. Unless a new sentence is finalized, Kim Geun-sik will be released next year.
Recently, rumors spread that Kim Geun-sik would enter a rehabilitation facility in Wollong-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, after completing his sentence next year, prompting concern in the local community. Paju-si said the matter had not been confirmed, but stated, “We maintain a clear position opposing this sex offender’s admission to Wollong-myeon.”
Meanwhile, Attorney Son emphasized the Korean-style Jessica’s Law as a measure to prevent repeat offenses. Regarding the bill, Son said, “It would have the state designate where sex offenders live when they are released. Some argue that it is unconstitutional because it constitutes double punishment and infringes on freedom of residence and movement.” He added, “There is a need for it, and various discussions are underway, but practical considerations are also being raised.”
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