F. Opinion on the Inquiry into the Distribution of Documents Regarding Persons Liable
to Committing Sexual Violence
A sexual offender, who was found guilty of having entered a hospital pretending to be
a patient and then raping and robbing nurses by threatening them with a weapon, was
released after serving ten years in prison. Regarding the issue, the chief of the Seoul OO
District Police Station asked the Commission the question of whether it would constitute a
violation of the human rights of a person thought to be likely to commit sexual violence
and the victims of his previous offenses to send an official document warning institutions
concerned in the jurisdiction of the police station of the release of the offender without
identifying the personal information of the criminal and the victims. The document was
also written to ask that security managers and relevant personnel be educated so as to
ensure that door locks are properly managed over the time period susceptible to crimes
and to report to the police station immediately should an emergency occur. In response,
the Commission expressed its opinion that the notification of the release of the offender
should be replaced with a notice that reminds hospitals of their vulnerability during peak
commuting hours and that calls for preventive measures against crimes (May 31, 2012).
G. Opinion on the Partial Amendment Bill for the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act
Article 14-4 (Provision of Financial Information, etc.) Clause 2 of the amendment bill
for the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act stipulates that the head of the Ministry of
Patriots and Veterans Affairs may request the head of a financial institution to submit
documents containing personal information or transfer financial information via the
electronic communications network if it is deemed necessary to confirm the eligibility of
"an applicant for employment support." Clause (3) of the same article provides that the
heads of financial institutions shall provide the head of the Ministry of Patriots and
Veterans Affairs with the requested information. The Commission, however, judged that
it would amount to an infringement of privacy and other human rights if the head of the
Chapter 1. Improvement of Laws, Regulations, Policies and Practices
59