[Newsmaker] Police book YouTubers, others after chaos outside child rapist's home

Ansan Danwon Police Station said Monday eight people had been booked for alleged offences outside the residence of child rapist Cho Doo-soon in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, following his release on the weekend.

One of those under investigation, a 17-year-old, was booked for allegedly attempting to break into Cho’s residence by climbing a wall, and another is under investigation for allegedly assaulting police officers.

A man in his 50s was booked for allegedly interfering in the teenager’s arrest by trying to block the police vehicle that was carrying him to the station.

Three people were booked for allegedly damaging the police vehicle that carried Cho to his home in Ansan.

The police have dispatched 100 officers around Cho’s residence since Saturday, and prevented protesters from coming in contact with him.

Public outrage erupted Saturday, when Cho, 68, was released from prison after serving 12 years in prison for brutally raping an 8-year-old girl in 2008. He left the Seoul Nambu Correctional Institution at 6 a.m. and returned to his home in Ansan escorted by probation officers.

His 12-year prison sentence has been widely denounced as too lenient, as the court cited “mental and physical weakness under the influence of alcohol” in reducing Cho’s prison sentence from 15 years to 12 years.

Cho’s return to society has been a source of fear for many here -- parents in particular. Criminal psychologists have cited prison records and related analysis to suggest he still has alcohol issues and cannot control his anger, saying it raises the probability of recidivism.

Around 150 protesters were waiting for Cho in Ansan on Saturday, throwing eggs at him and calling for him to be executed, put behind bars for life or expelled from the city.

Since then protesters have drawn complaints for using cameras near neighbors’ homes, and for disturbing them with loud noise from the demonstration. Some said they had trouble leaving and entering their homes because the crowd of protesters has blocked doorways.

It was reported that very few protesters remained near Cho’s residence Monday morning, but the police have dispatched the same number of officers as a precaution. Cho reportedly has not left his residence since he went home Saturday.

The police are reviewing whether to continue dispatching officers as demonstrations could continue during weekends. Many YouTubers have threatened to visit Cho’s residence and violently assault him to retaliate for his crimes.

Critics say a number of YouTubers are using Cho’s release as an opportunity to gain more viewers and subscribers.

In some of the livestreamed videos, people turned off the gas to Cho’s residence, ordered food delivery in front of the house and danced to music in front of police officers.

They encouraged people to “like” their streams and subscribe to their channels as they pledged to break into Cho’s house and beat him up.

One local YouTuber accused demonstrators of “holding their own festival” and looking to make money off the situation while feeling morally superior.

By Ko Jun-tae (ko.juntae@heraldcorp.com)