Cho Doo-soon, one of Korea's most notorious sex offenders, leaves a probation center in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Dec. 12, after being released from prison earlier in the day. / Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok

By Jun Ji-hye

The government of Ansan City has approved the application made by Cho Doo-soon, one of Korea's most notorious child rapists, who was released from prison in December, for the basic livelihood security program, enabling him to receive about 1.2 million won ($1,075) per month in welfare allowances, according to city officials, Tuesday.

Cho, 68, applied for the welfare assistance a few days after he returned to his home in the Gyeonggi provincial city, following his release from prison, claiming that he and his wife were suffering financial difficulties.

The city government approved the application at the end of last month, with the first payment being made in the same month, although Cho's application for welfare assistance has provoked anger from members of the public who said it was inappropriate to assist the sex criminal with taxpayers' money.

"We could not reject the application, as the couple's conditions met legal standards," a city official said.

City officials said Cho satisfied the conditions qualifying him for the government allowance, as he is over 65 years old and categorized as a senior citizen who is incapable of work.

His wife is under 65, but has faced difficulties finding a job due to health problems, in addition to her "high-profile" husband.

Cho was released from prison on Dec. 12, after serving a 12-year term for kidnapping an eight-year-old girl whom he violently raped repeatedly in a church bathroom in Ansan in 2008. The victim sustained severe injuries including intestinal ruptures, leading to permanent physical damage.