By This is really nothing new other then the fact the Korean media is reporting it:
Seoul’s two well-known downtown club areas near the Hongik University and Shinchon were classified as “dangerous areas” by the U.S. State Department.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, the U.S. State Department’s travel guide Web site introduced the areas as “dangerous areas” as early as May 2006.
A U.S. embassy official said, “The embassy regularly collects safety information and reports it to the State Department. My understanding is that when there were crimes against Americans in the two areas in 2005, the department introduced them as ‘dangerous areas’,” JoongAng Ilbo reported Saturday.
The newspaper said the reality differs from the U.S. decision. A police officer at Mapo Polilce Station said, “There have been virtually few crimes this year. Even the ones happened were also minor scuffles, usually happening by people who got drunk.”
Lee Seung-hwan, an official with the non-profit organization, “Club Culture Coalition,” which promotes a healthy night life, said, “Since the clubs in the Hongik University area banned the entrance of American soldiers, there was hardly any incident involving foreigners.”
Lee added, “In the past, there were many brawls between American soldiers who inappropriately approached Korean girls and Korean men who responded to the situation.” [Korea Times]
We all know Korean men never inappropriately approach Korean women at Hongdae. 
Just the fact that an American soldier approaching a Korean girl is worthy of being assaulted validates the State Department’s rationale for declaring the neighborhood a “Dangerous Zone” in the first place.
2:03 pm on December 13th, 2008 1
Nice to see those hellholes protected by the Gates of the Minjok.
5:59 am on December 14th, 2008 2
The Korean media as usual misreported the facts. The State Department never used the word "dangerous." It simply advised visitors to "exercise caution" especially in the evenings.
10:09 pm on May 5th, 2010 3
If you come to Korea with negative attitude, narrow mind, bias political or cultural view. Soon or later you will collide with Local Koreans. Koreans who were born and raised in Korea. Shinchon and Hongdae ( Woman and beer) believe me fight will happen. You guys should watch out during " Midnight" when Taxi and Police stations pretty much slows down. Local Koreans know all the rules and angles when to start a fight. It's usually after 1 A.M. If your foreigner who can't speak Korean or don't know Korean culture. Your perfect target. Group of Koreans 5 or 10 will probably give you Korean Beatdown. They will make sure you won't escape by chasing you down the street or They will group chase you throw glass bottle at you. They will make sure you sure your hopeless idiot.
11:53 pm on May 5th, 2010 4
I just had an idea where fifty of my "best friends" and I need to go on our next vacation.
2:06 am on September 4th, 2011 5
Wow… so its admitting the us military have been acting innappropriately on foreign soil! REVELATION!..wouldnt even be here if it wasnt for the strategic importance of the location in relation to china/middle east/russia. But thats no suprise with regard to foreign policy and use of military. Anyways, the comment about korean men doing it too, PLEASE… well, i wonder where they got the idea from (their “tough guy” friends from their western friends?…I mean in a culture so conservative, its not a very likely evolution)…regardless, pot-kettle-black, who gives a F___ just quit it. I have met great people from all walks of life here but the most nationalistic and xenophobic/arrogant/condescending were (unfortunately) for the most part, the americans, followed far behind by some brainwashed/ignorant natives and a few other moronic westerners. Unfortunately it exists as it does everywhere in the world. (see I SAID IT, ITS EVERYWHERE)but coming into korea (or anywhere) with a negative attitude will only perpetuate negative stereotypes of westerners and make your peoplen (and mine) look worse, im a well travelled westerner and it has happened to me, after talking it seems it is due to the same cause i was bestowed with the same feeling, witnessing the arrogance and criticizm of EVERYTHING by so many americans i have met here (franlky its very childish “…in america its not like this”…”it wouldnt happen in america…” etc), not all americans i have met, but many. of the few i consider great, (and there are a few) some themselves raised these points to me, in fact i had ignored/not consciously noticed it untill it was mentioned to me by other americans..so there ya go!
2:09 am on September 4th, 2011 6
..ps. as for (any) media misrepresenting information, theres really no suprise there is there?..free press ..haha
5:31 am on September 4th, 2011 7
Wow. I lived in Shinchon for almost two years. The only issues are ever had were if you went West of Yeondaero (the big road going up to the front gate of Yonsei) in what I liked to call “West Shinchon”. There’s a park there that looked pretty shady, and then you’ve got the Hongdae side. I was told to stay away from that park at night. The one time I was walking with a foreigner (my frenchie friend) and we were speaking English a drunk ajeossi started yelling at us about not being able to speak korean in his country, so we switched to Korean, got quieter, and bugged out of the area. Now, some weird stuff would go down in that area sometimes, like watching a woman slap a drunk guy in front of a bar and curse him out and him just taking it with a big crowd around her. I came back 5 minutes later and he was still being slapped. Oh, and a couple of times there were big demonstrations and I’d see the riot police vans, so I’d get the hell inside. Other than that I’d go walking around Shinchon all the time at 2:00 – 3:00 in the morning by myself and was out at 1:00 in the morning with my ex-gf or just lady friends but I really didn’t have any issues, but I wasn’t in the military yet, I mostly spoke Korean in country, and I’ve got a small build so I don’t attract as much attention as a tall foreigner speaking foreignese (like my french friend at the time). One incident where I got followed by a bum and had to throw him off. Another incident where we had a bum in our building who ran when I discovered him. Another one was when an a.jum.ma with a heavy Korean accent claimed she was from MEE-SHEE-GAHN and followed me onto Yonsei campus and kept trying to grab me so I evaded and reported to campus security. Finally I had a stalker who worked at local branch of the phone company. I mean, really really minor stuff. Anyway, the point is to watch out for bums and don’t be an ugly (insert nationality here). I had the best time of my life in Sinchon and my ok.tap.shil is still my favorite place that I’ve lived in. Shinchon is one of the funnest places in Korea. So let’s not bring knives and get drunk around angry students… Hmm, probably a good idea not to mess with drunk a.jeo.ssi’s. Avoid bums. Not that hard.
6:26 am on September 4th, 2011 8
I have gone to Shinchon with one or two well-mannered GIs several times and never had anything even resembling a problem.
Further, the GIs have ALWAYS wound up at a yogwan with an acceptable girl… due to a combination of their natural manners and my management of the situation.
The best time was when we sat in front of a chicken hoff, ordered a couple of pitchers, and decided to offer a glass of free beer to everybody that walked by…
…and we did.
Soon, we had an endless crowd of cheerful Koreans and an endless supply of beer as they would drink a glass with us and then, for those with extra money, buy us a full new pitcher before saying goodbye.
We didn’t have any devious motive and we didn’t target pretty girls… we just offered it to everybody who walked down the alley… guys, girls, pretty, ugly, young, old… sincerly wishing to spread good cheer and a positive American/GI image until our money ran out.
Of course this action got the attention of foreigner-curious Korean girls much better than oily “hey baby” or thuggish eye rape. The GIs vanished at different times with girls that stayed and drank with us who seemed to be alone and without minders.
I stayed and drank with the remaining group of guys and girls that had massed at my table(s).
I don’t quite remember large parts of this phase except for paying a bill for the first few pitchers and stumbling off toward the train station as the sun came up.
It was one of the best times I ever had for less than thirty bucks and was a typical example of the exponentially kind and generous response I have always gotten from Koreans when I made even the smallest effort to show kindness and generosity.
6:30 am on September 4th, 2011 9
You guys are funny. We americans are always the ugly one. As for myself I enjoy a good one on 2 or 3 scuff. In my opinion it is what keeps my blood going. What, I cant come over here and break rules and commit crime? Look at what you are doing in the good ole USA. Lets talk about that shall we. Face it, if not for the US you would not have news, or a country for that fact. Let it begin, oh you stupid american. Go ahead, kick me out, lets see what happens then.
7:21 am on September 4th, 2011 10
#9 are you high and learning esl from old soviet text books?
8:59 am on September 4th, 2011 11
In my experience, American soldiers are probably one of the most undisciplined, uneducated, and ignorant soldiers. It’s funny how G.I.Japan always compare these G.I.s to Korean civilians, comparing crimes statistics and what not. But my point is isn’t that comparing apples and oranges? You should compare soldiers with soldiers. So the comparison should be American soldiers vs Korean soldiers. I mean, isn’t being a soldier supposed to be better disciplined and have more respect and honor than civiilians? That’s what I was taught when I was a soldier, does american military don’t teach that?
9:06 am on September 4th, 2011 12
Can’t remember anything but having a hell of a great time anywhere I went in Korea. Usually involved large quantities of beer, and often wound up with singing ridiculous songs with Koreans and other nationalities.
Like The Duke said, “Young man, if yer lookin’ for trouble, I’ll accommodate ya- otherwise, leave it alone”
Play stupid games – win stupid prizes.
You want to make a friend- be a friend.
9:31 am on September 4th, 2011 13
#11: Interesting idea… comparing military to military crime statistics…
10:55 am on September 4th, 2011 14
Orbit, you mean the ROK Army that doesn’t allow its soldiers to be tried in Korean civilian courts? Heck civilians that commit crimes against the ROK Army get court martialed.
11:37 am on September 4th, 2011 15
Hmmmmm i wonder how non judicial punishment
Works in the rok
12:32 pm on September 4th, 2011 16
#14 Way to point out something that’s totally irrelevant.
4:54 pm on September 4th, 2011 17
I remember a time when you could count the foreigners on one hand in Shinchon and Hongdae.
7:35 pm on September 4th, 2011 18
“I remember a time when you could count the foreigners on one hand in Shinchon and Hongdae.”
Always use the right tool for the right job.
http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/500/Record-Number-of-Fingers–545.jpg