More info on sex offenders to go public

The public will be granted wider access to the information regarding sex offenders, including their street addresses, starting next month.

The Park Geun-hye administration yesterday approved a revision to the enforcement ordinances for the law to prevent child sex crimes.

At the cabinet meeting hosted by President Park at the Blue House, the government agreed to the changes so that more specific addresses of child sex offenders will be made public.

Until now, the sex offender database provided the names of the neighborhoods where the convicted criminals reside, without specific street addresses. But starting June 19, the actual street addresses will be provided to the public.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the sex offender registry will also provide more detailed crime records of the each individual convict, including the specific charges of convictions and the number of repeat offenses.

Whether or not an offender is wearing an electronic anklet and the subsequent monitoring period will also be provided.

Under the revised law, sex offenders are also barred from working at entertainment facilities youngsters frequent, including game arcades and singing rooms.

Until now, sex offenders were only prohibited from working at kindergartens, child-care facilities and schools.

Park, the first woman president of the country, has vowed to root out sex crime from society since her presidential campaign, calling it one of four major social evils to eradicate.

By Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]