By This Korea Times article makes a claim that foreigner crime is rising dramatically in Korea:
FOREIGNERS’ CRIMES RISE SIGNIFICANTLYThe number of foreign nationals caught for crimes in Korea is on the rise with the increase rate in felonies particularly notable.
The National Police Agency (NPA) said Wednesday a total of 7,812 foreigners were arrested last year for involvement in the five major crimes – homicide, robbery, burglary, rape and physical assault. – an increase of nearly 18 percent from 6,615 in 2008.
Police said a total of 260 foreigners were caught for robbery last year, up 95 percent from 133 in 2008, making it the fastest growing serious crime. Burglary came next with a 45 percent increase, followed by homicide at 21 percent, rape at 11 percent and physical assault at 8 percent.
An estimated 1.2 million foreigners, including those overstaying their visas, are living in Korea, accounting for 2.4 percent of the country’s population of 50 million.
A total of 543,812 major crimes – including violations by foreigners, were reported in Korea in 2008, according to recent statistics from Rep. Shim Jae-chul of the ruling Grand National Party – a dramatic increase from 454,550 cases in 2004.
This means the number of crimes has risen by about 5 percent annually during the four-year period.
The number of incarcerated foreigners has increased nearly four times in nine years.
There were some 1,000 foreign inmates as of August, the Ministry of Justice said – in 2001, there were only 251 foreign inmates, but the number jumped to 562 in 2007. [Korea Times via Gusts of Popular Feeling]
Read more at the link but reading this article you would think Koreans would need to run in panic when they see a foreigner coming. However is this great increasing foreigner crime wave true? Since the Korea Times is not interested in providing context I will.
According to the article there was a total of 543,812 major crimes committed in Korea. If you subtract the number of major crimes committed by foreigners which is 7,812, the Korean crime number becomes 536,000 major crimes. South Korea is listed as having a population of 49,773,145. If you divide the total population by the total number of major crimes you get a ratio of 1 major crime for every 93 Koreans.
Now lets use the same equation to calculate the foreigner crime rate. According to the Korea Times article there was 7,812 major crimes by foreigners out of a population of 1.2 million. If you divide the population by the total number of major crimes again you get ratio of 1 major crime for every 154 foreigners.
- Korean Per-Capita Crime Rate – 1 major crime per 93 Koreans
- Foreign Per Capita Crime Rate – 1 major crime per 154 foreigners
It just seems the fact that foreigners have a lower per-capita crime rate than the Korean population would be a important point of context to add to the article. However, the Korea Times is right that foreign crime has increased significantly. Here is how the foreign crime ratio compares to the numbers I compiled in 2006:
- 2006 Foreign Crime Rate – 1 major crime per 270 foreigners
- 2009 Foreign Crime Rate – 1 major crime per 154 foreigners
However, on the same token the Korean crime rate has increased as well:
- 2006 Korean Crime Rate – 1 major crime per 100 Koreans
- 2009 Korean Crime Rate – 1 major crime per 93 Koreans
The Korean crime rate is on the increase as well, but not as steeply as the foreign crime. Regardless Korean citizens are nearly twice as likely to have a major crime committed against them by a Korean than by a foreigner. So yes the Korea Times is correct to say that the foreign crime rate has increased significantly, but they should still provide the context that it hasn’t increased enough to surpass the Korean crime rate. To put it simply it would be safer for a person in Korea to walk down a street full of English teachers and GIs than to walk down one filled with Koreans, but don’t expect the Korea Times to print that anytime soon.
By the way make sure to read Popular Gusts posting on this issue to provide further context about the rising foreign crime rate.
9:56 pm on April 27th, 2010 1
("South Korea is listed as having a population of 49,773,145.")
You have to minus 1.4 million foreign nationals from that figure. Regardless, of course Korean crime is more because there are far more Koreans than foreigners. The point is though, why import more problems from the outside if you don't have to, when there's enough problems domestically already? Get rid of people like JohnT, just deport them.
10:21 pm on April 27th, 2010 2
Nice post. At the end though, you've worked it out slightly wrong. Any given Korean in Korea is about 70 times more likely to be a victim of a crime by a Korean than by a foreigner. In a room with 100 Koreans and 100 foreigners, they're almost twice as likely to be a victim of a crime by a Korean. I think I've worked that out right anyway…
10:22 pm on April 27th, 2010 3
Having far more Koreans has nothing to do with the ratios in regards to crime. The ratios show Koreans are more likely to commit serious crimes than a foreigner, thus it is safer for a Korean to walk down a street filled with foreigners than a street filled with Koreans.
11:01 pm on April 27th, 2010 4
Foreigners tend to commit less crime when abroad than in their own country.
For instance Koreans in Brazil commit less crime than Brazilians and Koreans in Japan commits less crime than Japanese in Japan. Does it mean what? That Koreans are prone to commit crime? that Koreans are peaceful people that hate crimes?
Americans for instance are given death sentence in the USA very often, but in Korea they hardly go to jail. Does it mean that Americans don’t commit crimes?
You are making general assumption in a very specific issue and the reason why you keep revolving around this subject again and again, and bring numbers after numbers is because this is a serious issue among you.
11:06 pm on April 27th, 2010 5
That depends on which foreigners. Aside from the angry little foreigners like JohnT, ethnic Koreans and ethnic Chinese from China are the single biggest source of problem for whatever reasons. Look at the crime rates by nationalities and you'll see what I'm talking about.
11:10 pm on April 27th, 2010 6
Again I want to repeat my point to GI Korea, why import foreign problems (however the crime rates bigger or smaller it is) from the outside when you don't have to? Why add to the crime problem? And this nonsense about building foreigners only 5 star hotel prisons also has to stop.
1:05 am on April 28th, 2010 7
Import foreign problems? I've paid more taxes in South Korea than you ever will.
1:07 am on April 28th, 2010 8
"You have to minus 1.4 million foreign nationals from that figure. Regardless, of course Korean crime is more because there are far more Koreans than foreigners."
Imagine that, a Korean who sucks at math. Who knew? Maybe you should get yourself bronzed and donate yourself to the British Museum or the Smithsonian.
1:35 am on April 28th, 2010 9
GI Korea is right to report on this because it highlights a failure of journalism. When stories are reported the way the Korea Times did, without adequate context, it creates stereotype impressions in the minds of their readers. Whether the news organizations are doing this intentionally or unintentionally, I am sure they are taught in journalism school that this is what happening. They have an obligation to inform, but they also have an obligation not to misinform.
That being said, it would be near impossible to point out all contextual factors. A social scientist could make a career of it.
Here are just two of my own observations that come to mind. Crime rates tend to tie to economics. Last year's economic downturn would have affected the people in the lower economic groups the worst. I expect that more 3D migrants workers were out of work, not getting paid, and more desperate than the year before.
Another thing I've seen is, most foreigner crime tends to be within their own foreigner community. Filipinos would commit most of their crimes against other Filipinos and Chinese against other Chinese. They also tend to deal with the crimes amongst themselves, within their communities and not report it to local authorities. There was a report years back, about an Uzbek syndicate in Korea that was extorting, prostituting, and brutalizing the Uzbek community here. None of their activity was reported until authorities discovered it during an immigration round-up.
However, over time, as the foreigners assimilate more, that changes. They start reporting more internal crimes to local authorities and they start committing more crimes outside of their communities.
So, as Korea becomes more integrated and multi-cultural, I expect to see those crime trend lines converge and maybe even cross-over.
6:43 am on April 28th, 2010 10
Foreigners committed 103 homicides in 2009?
Two per week?
And I didn’t see fantastic anti-foreigner material like that hyped on the front page of the paper twice a week?
And Tom didn’t post on it twice a week?
Naaaw… something isn’t right here.
9:51 am on April 28th, 2010 11
Tom isn't one for facts, numbers or sources, but don't blame his Korean side. I'm pretty sure he isn't one.
12:27 pm on April 28th, 2010 12
I think they should hang all the Americans, I'm getting sick of their nonsense.
12:34 pm on April 28th, 2010 13
I'm still confused.
This chart is telling me that foreigners are killing people off at a rate of 2 per week.
I do recall a foreigner-perpetrated murder or two every year… mostly GIs offing their wives, an occasional 3rd-worlder hacking someone up, a freezer full of French babies… which gets appropriate press.
But I think I would notice two per week. I think I would have no choice but to notice two per week.
For those of you who follow this type of thing, what's up? Is the above chart a lie? Is the anti-foreigner crowd dropping the ball? Is Nigerian-on-Nigerian homicide not worthy of attention?
I don't get it.
If I was working for the Ministry of Misinformation, I could use a statistic like that, especially if true, to have the population burning foreigners at the stake within a month.
1:15 pm on April 28th, 2010 14
Maybe some of the victims were only mostly dead and then got better. As I mentioned before in the land where a traffic accident becomes pre-meditated first degree murder most foul and fans are know to slaughter people in the thousands is it such a great leap of logic to apply it elsewhere.
—
I wouldn't say most of the murders are GI's killing their wives but I might be wrong. I remember the AF CPT killing his wife and two contractors dumping wives off bridges. Other than that it's been a long time since SPC McCarthy or PFC Mannin killed prositutes in 1997 and 1998.
—
In fact all these murders may all be reported by the Anti-English spectrum stalker creep AKA Tom. "I saw a greasy drug using foreigner with a Korean girl and waited outside the apartment all night but she didn't come out….MURDER!"
4:57 pm on April 28th, 2010 15
Considering tragic traffic accidents in Korea are hyped as “murder” if the driver is an American I suspect the definition of homicide may vary if you are Korea or a foreigner.
—-
Korea: “Officer I know my wife is beat to a pulp and has a broken neck but she was sleeping alone with a fan on.” Case solved: fan death.
—
Foreigner: “Officer I was stopped at the red light when the drunk ajusshi plowed into the back of my car.” Case Solved: murder most foul.
8:33 pm on April 28th, 2010 16
Of course the USFK can never commit a crime. That is impossible. USFK has never murdered anyone because they are American, and Americans have never committed any crime or caused any trouble in foreign countries.
8:51 pm on April 28th, 2010 17
I'm not blaming his Korean side. Aren't Koreans supposed to be good at math? (that's a rhetorical question, I'm still making fun of the stereotype).
10:51 pm on April 28th, 2010 18
Tom,
You sometimes have valid points… but you dilute their impact with nonsense and hatefulness.
You last post, for example, took a big loan from the Bank of Stupid… that you will have to work hard to pay back.
USFK's punishment exceeds that of Korean courts… and, best I can tell, USFK goes out of its way to investigate and punish alleged GI crimes against Koreans.
GI crimes WITH Koreans is another story… 'specially when those GIs are high-ranking and have Korean wives.
11:46 am on April 29th, 2010 19
Tom you are the only fool who has ever said that. Do you read at all? I clearly mentioned McCarthy and Mannin who killed Koreans just a few inches above your mindless reply. You remind me of the KNCA random insult generator except you are less funny.
11:48 am on April 29th, 2010 20
Even a broken clock is right twice a day, but to be honest I think Tom has only made one rational argument in the past two or so months. And of course he buried it in a load of over the top gutter filth.
He has no value.
2:52 am on May 17th, 2010 21
GIs, English teachers and other westerns only account for a very small portion of the 1.2 million foreign citizens in Korea. 30,000 US military plus maybe 70,000 other westerners (high estimate) would only be 100,000 out of 1.2 million. Most foreigners are ethnic Koreans from China.
Anyways these statistics don't tell us much about the crime rate of westerners in Korea. I'm guessing its pretty low minus your random fights at itaewon (usually foreigner vs foreigner).
Really bad article. It's like in the US where it's also popular to blame immigrants for crime, even though they cause less crime per capita than US citizens.
3:59 am on May 17th, 2010 22
"It’s like in the US where it’s also popular to blame immigrants for crime, even though they cause less crime per capita than US citizens."
<a href="http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ay1v08Vw1qsJ :www.fairus.org/site/DocServer/crimestudy.pdf%3FdocID%3D2321+illegal+alien+crime+per+capita&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg_r9-6Tfwm3AA31v165S7aB0BRchjk017kgSapvWzN6NK6eAUclxw0r4vbXfRc70C4iAEfIbZttOfFc51TndjgdTBBhsOJjd963ZLHjXSpi67XUlQEwpfz7Lt36ICVrtIR2LnD&sig=AHIEtbRm9s9wjV8_IB1eeFZdcSwihWviFQ” target=”_blank”>http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ay1…” target=”_blank”>:www.fairus.org/site/DocServer/crimestudy.pdf%3FdocID%3D2321+illegal+alien+crime+per+capita&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg_r9-6Tfwm3AA31v165S7aB0BRchjk017kgSapvWzN6NK6eAUclxw0r4vbXfRc70C4iAEfIbZttOfFc51TndjgdTBBhsOJjd963ZLHjXSpi67XUlQEwpfz7Lt36ICVrtIR2LnD&sig=AHIEtbRm9s9wjV8_IB1eeFZdcSwihWviFQ
7:07 am on May 17th, 2010 23
I'm a bigger foreigner than you may think Tom. This is especially true in the bottom parts.
Even still, I'm not so angry that I might start killing more than thirty Koreans.
7:10 am on May 17th, 2010 24
Then who would save Korea's ass yet again, the French? Gyopo draft dodgers? YOU?
7:16 am on May 17th, 2010 25
Interesting report, Chickenhead. This one supports Greg's statement. Undocumented immigrants are younger, less educated, and more likely to be male than the general adult population. When demographically matched, immigrants are significantly less likely to be involved in crime than their US counterparts.
7:20 am on May 17th, 2010 26
GI,
Links aren't visible in comments unless you mouse over them. Any way you can change the formatting by adding a line or blue font to links?
3:10 pm on May 17th, 2010 27
And, while we are on the subject of foreigners…
…in a move that surprised no one…
"US court grants asylum to Obama's African aunt"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100517/ap_on_re_us/u…
The key points are…
"she arrived in a wheelchair and two doctors testified in support of her case."
Nice move. One wonders who is paying for her "treatment".
"Onyango moved to the United States in 2000. Her first asylum request was rejected, and she was ordered deported in 2004"
But, of course, for 6 more years, she stayed on. I wonder how she paid for her living expense?
"But she didn't leave the country and continued to live in public housing in Boston."
Ah. I see.
Can I puke now?