Sign the Petition for Na Young

I was absolutely horrified just now to read this article via a comment by one of our readers. In Seoul, Korea, Na Young (pseudonym), an eight year old girl, was kidnapped, brutally beaten, strangled, raped, and tortured and left to die by a 50 something year old man. AND HE WAS ONLY SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN JAIL. He was a repeat offender and had many prior arrests, having served jail time for another rape even. Be warned, some of the articles describe the crime in graphic detail. Apparently, he was drunk when he committed the crime but that is no excuse for the horrendous and truly evil things he did.

Please sign this petition to help bring justice and also to help reform the Korean laws regarding sentencing sex offenders. I am not that familiar with Korean law and the justice system but apparently, it is quite lax. I don't think they have a sex offender registry either. That is what Na Young's mother is asking for. For pictures of sex offenders to be posted at schools and updated every 6 months.

It is SUCH a shame that Korea has such lax laws for sex offenders. In one article, I read that a justice commented that the 12 year term was actually not that lenient, given Korea's laws. WTF? I even read somewhere that the government was taking down posts about this because it didn't want to draw international attention to such a shameful incident.

This is a picture that Na Young drew when asked how she would like the man who raped her to be punished:

Korea, shame on YOU. How can you let this man only serve 12 years in jail? Clearly, with repeat offenses, he is a danger to society and our children. To me, what he did was WORSE than murder. Please Korea, we need to protect our children from such criminals. President Lee and the citizens of Korea, I ask you as a Korean living in America, who still has a lot of pride in her home country, to please prevent this from every happening again. We cannot afford another Na Young.

- Mary

Comments

[kp]

Signed it.
This is an outrage! The man that did this to her needs to be put away for life. She is forever damaged, not only physically, but emotionally. I am heartbroken for her.

[ivy]

signed. I am so outraged and ashamed of Korean society right now. May that sweet little girl be strong, recover, and lead a joyful life that vindicates this horrific abuse.

[Nina]

It is hard to comprehend in light of the long sentences that are typical in the US, but the US is actually rather unusual in the severity of its sentencing. South Korea, I think, has until very recently had a maximum determinate sentence of 15 years for even murder. So the justice's comment was actually pretty accurate in context.

My heart hurts for Na Young. I hope she can find the strength and support she needs to recover and live a good life.

[Maria]

Done. I had to skip through the article...way too graphic. We should send this to our news stations and newspapers to shed more light on the situation.

[Elizabeth]

Please,

Everyone should send this to their local news. This is something everyone should know about.. People should have a chance to do something about it.

[Mary]

Just wrote to NPR to please cover this story. Yes, please write to your local stations to cover this story. SHAME is a great motivating factor when it comes to Korea.

[Evan]

I think that Korea should definitely reconsider its justice system. I mean, really, this is a horrible crime that demands a terrible penalty.

[Joelsa]

I couldn't read the article. As a mom of two girls, this sort of atrocity would be my worst nightmare. But I signed the petition. Thanks for bringing it to our attention Mary.