Dates 9 Jan 2009 – 24 Sep 2009 | ||
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Similar Miryang gang rape, Murder of Teresa Cormack, Murder of Deanna Criswell Location Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Danwon-gu | ||
Notorious rapist Cho Doo-soon to return home after 12 years in prison
The Nayoung Case is an incident that took place in December 2008, in which an eight-year-old girl (alias Nayoung) was on her way to school when she was kidnapped by 57-year-old Cho Doo Soon, who was drunk at the time. Cho raped and beat Nayoung at a public squat toilet. Nayoung had injuries to her internal organs, and was taken to a hospital, surviving the incident. Cho was arrested and eventually sentenced to twelve years in prison. The case sparked outrage and protest including Nayoung's parents and many others.
Contents
- Notorious rapist Cho Doo soon to return home after 12 years in prison
- Crime Event Details
- Song Controversy
- Cho Doo soons History
- Investigation Lapses
- Trial Controversy
- Release of Perpetrator
- 2021 Attack on Cho Doo soon
- References
Crime Event Details
Under the influence of alcohol, Cho abducted Na-young while she was en route to school, luring her into a church bathroom under false pretenses.
He raped her anally, vaginally and through her ears.
Cho subjected her to a barrage of physical assaults, including repeated strikes to her face, biting her cheek, and attempted strangulation. He immersed her head in water until she lost consciousness before proceeding with further assault.
He pushed a pipe in her to get rid of his semen. Because of the severe damage one of her intestines fall out of her body, which he pushed back into her by shoving it up her anus. He then raped her again by making her sit up so that her organs wouldn’t fall out.
Cho left Na-young on the cold, damp floor of the bathroom and fled from the scene. Fortunately, Na-young was discovered by local residents and promptly transported to a hospital. She survived the ordeal despite suffering significant injuries to her internal organs.
Cho was apprehended while still bearing traces of Na-young's blood, indicating his involvement in the crime. The trauma inflicted on Na-young resulted in severe, long-lasting injuries, primarily concentrated in her abdomen and pelvic region, necessitating at least eight months of medical treatment.
Song Controversy
A stil from Hope, the film from Korean filmmaker Lee Joon-ik, based on Nayoung Case.
Cho Doo soons History
Cho Doo-soon, born October 18, 1952, began his criminal journey at a young age. He dropped out of middle school and committed his first crime in 1970, stealing a bicycle. His youth and the minor nature of the crime granted him leniency. Two years later, he was sentenced to 18 months in a youth detention center for extortion. In 1977, he received an 8-month prison sentence for habitual theft.
By 1983, Cho had escalated to sexual violence, raping a 69-year-old woman, which led to a three-year prison sentence. Over the years, he faced several fines for various violent crimes, including assault. A fatal assault in 1995 led to a two-year sentence and psychiatric hospital admission due to his feeble-minded state. This crime was fueled by a disagreement over the controversial President Chun Doo-hwan.
Cho's wife, his only family, lauds him for his domestic contributions, despite his extensive criminal history. She notes his involvement in cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the household for over 20 years. During their marriage, Cho committed 11 of his 18 total crimes, most often while intoxicated, leading his wife to attribute alcohol as the main trigger for his criminal behavior.
Investigation Lapses
The investigation was managed by unskilled investigators who prolonged Nayoung's distress by putting her through hours of questioning. This not only made her relive her trauma but also happened in front of other patients.
Nayoung was compelled to sit during the questioning, causing discomfort due to her injuries. Furthermore, due to their unfamiliarity with the equipment, the interview was unnecessarily prolonged, and Nayoung was ultimately compelled to testify in court.
Trial Controversy
Cho Doo-soon's initial life sentence was reduced to 12 years after Na-young testified he was intoxicated during the assault. Cho maintained his innocence in multiple letters to the judge. Na-young's parents sued the prosecution for causing undue physical and psychological distress to their daughter, citing improper questioning methods and failure to follow protocols with a minor witness. They also faulted the prosecution for not using available video evidence that could have spared Na-young from testifying. In 2011, Na-young received 13 million won in compensation from the government for prosecution missteps. The sentencing sparked public outcry, leading to numerous calls for retrial on the presidential office's website.
Release of Perpetrator
Cho, a figure of intense public attention, was released on December 12, 2020. He proceeded to reside in Ansan, remarkably within a radius of less than a kilometer from his victim's home. Intriguingly, Na-young's father offered to go to the lengths of obtaining a loan to facilitate Cho's departure from Ansan.
Cho publicly expressed remorse for his past deeds and made a commitment to lead a quiet life free of controversy upon his release. As part of his conditional freedom, he was required to wear an electronic ankle monitor, ensuring continuous oversight during his seven-year probation period. This period also included the provision for his probation officer to conduct unannounced visits to his residence.
Even though these measures were put in place, there have been precedents in Korea where criminals managed to evade law enforcement despite being under electronic surveillance. To assuage the public's concern following Cho's release, an additional 71 security cameras were installed throughout Ansan.
On May 20, 2021, the South Korean Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the government of Ansan city announced that the cost of monitoring and tracking Cho for the first four months had amounted to over 200 million KRW.
Cho is also reportedly formulating plans to initiate a coffee enterprise alongside his wife. He has already sought financial backing via an inmate assistance program.
2021 Attack on Cho Doo soon
Cho experienced an assault at his residence perpetrated by a vigilante, resulting in minor injuries. The assailant, a man in his twenties, reportedly posed as a law enforcement officer to gain entry, subsequently assaulting Cho with a blunt object. Following Cho's recent release from prison, there arose public dissatisfaction regarding the perceived leniency of his sentence. Some individuals, including the assailant in this incident, sought to take matters into their own hands to seek what they perceived as personal justice.