“Hope” won Best Film at the 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards, the acting was incredible and most of the scenes are tear-jerking. It’s is a film that will rip-off your emotions right through your heart.
This film based on a true story, the infamous Cho Doo-Soon case in 2008, in which an 8-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a drunk 57-year-old man. The court sentenced him to only 12 years in prison. They claim it is because he was mentally and physically weak due to the influence of alcohol.
Cho was convicted violently raped an 8-year-old girl in Ansan. After kidnapping the victim on her way to school, Cho took her to a church restroom. He choked, beat and brutally raped her. The victim was left with severe, lasting injuries.
He has 17 other criminal convictions dating from 1970, including sexual offenses and murder.
The case shocked and horrified the nation and prompted an outpouring of public sympathy for the girl.
Although nearly a million people signed online petitions to the president opposing Cho’s release. But still the grey-haired Cho, wearing a cap and a white face mask was released yesterday on Dec 12.
Dozens of protesters, holding signs that read “Cho Doo-soon to hell” and blocked the path outside the prison causing delayed on his release by half an hour. Later, a van carrying Cho can be seen rolled out of the prison’s gate and demonstrators threw eggs and other objects to the van.
The victim’s father told TV channel JTBC that his daughter “burst into tears” about Cho’s planned return to Ansan. “It was the first time that happened since she was attacked 12 years ago. We all cried with her.”
Public also show the concerns on social media. The following are some comments on social media:
►“Nearly everyone I know was busy searching the Internet to figure out the location of his house and I did too,” said a coffee shop employee.
►“There are talks going around that prison didn’t change him, and that he was still a violent man. You don’t want that man walking on the streets and couples with parents are particularly concerned.”
►”I’ll tremble with fright about encountering him anytime and anywhere,” an office worker in Ansan said.
►“I hope he’ll now live as a normal citizen who doesn’t harm others, but I still have fears about him”
To ease public anxiety, Cho will be wearing a GPS device that tracks him, 12 security guards will be patrolling area around Cho’s house 24 hours a day. Officials are also adding 20 more security cameras as well as new streetlights.
The police officer in Ansan, said another 30 officers have been separately mobilised to patrol the neighbourhood.
Info via CNA | The Star | Korea Times