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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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 Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:55 am Post subject: Crime wave has women on edge |
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Crime wave has women on edge
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/03/11/200903110031.asp
At a bus station near a residential area in Incheon, a woman takes off her heels to change into a pair of sneakers.
Chung Jee-won, a housewife who often visits Seoul by bus, always prepares to run at full speed the 10-minute distance from the bus station to her apartment, when returning home late at night.
"I used to listen to my MP3 while walking down this pathway," she said. "But after the recent brutal crimes against women, even a distance this short has come to too frightening at night."
Korea is a country with a highly active nightlife, but women are not in the mood to enjoy it any more. The recent series of serious crimes committed against women caused a sense of alarm regarding their security, especially on their way home after dark.
The serial murder suspect Kang Ho-soon is thought to have targeted women who were alone on the street. Kang was arrested in January and indicted last month for the killing of ten women, including his wife and mother-in-law. Investigators, having identified the DNA of two unknown women on a confiscated garden hoe owned by Kang, suspect him of additional killings.
Chung Seung-hee, arrested for kidnapping a female bakery owner last month, is under prosecutorial investigation on allegations of committing similar crimes against other women in the past.
A series of acts of sexual violence, robbery, and kidnapping by taxi drivers has added to the worry.
"Taxis, which used to be a useful means of transportation in late hours, have become potentially dangerous vehicles to be avoided," said Park Ka-yoon, 29. "When I inevitably have to take a taxi at night, I thoroughly check that nobody is hiding in the front seat and text the license plate number, registration number, and the driver's name to family members."
Despite precautions like these, women may not be entirely safe from crime.
"Most people who actually commit violent crimes would not be driving vehicles registered under their real name," said a Lee Joon-gu, a driver working for a call taxi service. "Sending such information to family members, in most cases, may be of no use, except in the case of traceable call taxis."
Career, a major recruiting portal website, conducted a survey of 583 female workers last month. Of the respondents, 71.5 percent said that they were frightened by recent high-profile crimes. The sense of insecurity was highest among women in their 20s (76.0 percent).
Many respondents (62.4 percent) made changes to their lifestyle after the recent spate of high-profile crimes.
The survey result showed that 60.9 percent of the respondents returned home earlier than they used to, advancing the average time they returned home by 1 hour and 24 minutes.
When asked what they did to prevent themselves becoming victims of crime, 28.1 percent said that they go back home before public transport shuts down, and 26.9 percent said that they keep talking with a family member or friend on the phone.
Some chose to restrain from all forms of nightlife that may cause them to return home late.
About 26 percent chose to go straight home after work, and over 21 percent decided to decrease the frequency of their social engagements.
The overall fear has increased the public demand for self-defense equipment and the location tracking services offered by mobile network service providers.
16.5 percent who said they recently purchased self-protection items, such as alarms, pepper spray, gas guns, whistles and other items. A further 70.3 percent were willing to carry such equipment.
By Bae Hyun-jung
([email protected])
2009.03.11 |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
A series of acts of sexual violence, robbery, and kidnapping by taxi drivers has added to the worry.
"Taxis, which used to be a useful means of transportation in late hours, have become potentially dangerous vehicles to be avoided," said Park Ka-yoon, 29. "When I inevitably have to take a taxi at night, I thoroughly check that nobody is hiding in the front seat and text the license plate number, registration number, and the driver's name to family members."
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Very scary. Remember to travel in pairs and watch cab drivers. They can be criminals, too. |
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:16 am Post subject: |
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| wylies99 wrote: |
| Quote: |
A series of acts of sexual violence, robbery, and kidnapping by taxi drivers has added to the worry.
"Taxis, which used to be a useful means of transportation in late hours, have become potentially dangerous vehicles to be avoided," said Park Ka-yoon, 29. "When I inevitably have to take a taxi at night, I thoroughly check that nobody is hiding in the front seat and text the license plate number, registration number, and the driver's name to family members."
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Very scary. Remember to travel in pairs and watch cab drivers. They can be criminals, too. |
...you're joking, right? I find this very, very difficult to believe, especially with the amount of registered taxis in Seoul. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:09 am Post subject: |
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I think this thing is being blown out of proportion. Yes, women should take precautions when out, especially at night: don't walk alone, stay out of dark alleys, etc.
Still, one serial killer and a few kidnapping taxi drivers does not a dangerous country make. Taking precautions is a rational move; putting yourself under virtual house arrest when not a work isn't. |
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Guri Guy
Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Location: Bamboo Island
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:58 am Post subject: |
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Oh, it's a big problem. Women have good reason to be afraid.
Here are some chilling stories about the subject.
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An issue that has gained recent attention is the issue of sexual assaults in Korea. There has been plenty of recent attention in Korea on sexual assaults against minors and other Korean women. Many of the recent high profile assaults against these women have been by repeat rapists who had received lenient jail time measured in months after their first sexual assault. These cases has caught the attention of the Korean media and hopefully this attention will lead to positive change in Korean society against sexual predators by not immediately condemning women who have been raped as prostitutes for example or giving these monsters who rape women light sentences which is right now an all to common practice in Korea.
Despite the media coverage of the sexual assault problems in Korea, something that has continued to be ignored by the Korean media is sexual assaults against foreign women in Korea. I have highlighted a number of assaults against female foreigners in Korea. Here are a few examples of past assaults on foreign women in Korea. A 19 year old female soldier newly arrived to Korea from Incheon airport was raped by a cab driver bringing her to Seoul. Then there is also the Jamie Penich murder in Itaewon that should be familiar to many expats out there. Then most recently the rape of an Army officer in Taegu that was almost totally buried by the Korean media. |
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| I came across this blog in doing my own research about the incidents of foreign females in Korea being assaulted and saw the story from back in July when a female military officer was assaulted by a cab driver. I am so lucky that I have found this blog and can spread the word about the dangers of being a foreign female in Korea and how biased the Korean media, police, hospitals, etc. might be to you if something horrible were to happen. I, too, was a victim and want anyone who wants to hear my story to listen up and spread the word. |
http://rokdrop.com/2006/03/15/sexual-assualts-in-korea/
I guess the whole thing is overblown according to the Korean police right? 
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The Korean National Police have put out there first ever crime prevention guide for foreigners residing in Korea.
Unfortunately, reports NoCutNews, it has sparked controversy by making Korea look like a �paradise for criminals� (or any American city. Take your pick).
The pamphlet, which was published in English, Japanese and Chinese, gave nine tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of crime during your stay in Korea.
Some of the tips are simply common-sense suggestions and observations, like, �Call 112 in case of emergency,� �Over-drinking is a cause of accidents and crime,� and, �Get in the back seat when you take a taxi.�
But if you take a good look at the pamphlet, says the paper, you can come away thinking Korea was a festering cesspool of crime.
It advises readers to avoid going out at night, and when returning home, have your family come out to meet you.
Avoid secluded roads, and don�t walk them alone.
Look for suspicious individuals when you park your car, and carry self-defense objects (like mace, etc.) in your bag.
Install bars on your windows to keep criminals out.
And my personal favorite: Don�t get on the elevator with strangers, and make it a habit to stand next to the emergency bell. Oh, and don�t turn your back to other elevator passengers.
And when delivery people come to your home, call the delivery company and confirm their identities.
Christ. You�d think you�d be better off relocating to Fallujah.
The National Police Agency said it made the pamphlet because crimes against foreigners have been on the rise recently (funny, I didn�t know that. Wonder how much is barbarian-on-barbarian crime?). It added that it plans to distribute some 20,000 copies to foreign embassies and foreign groups in Korea. Many, however, feel that with 750,000 foreigners residing in Korea, the pamphlet might be overkill, or even worse, the police tarnishing their own excellent work in maintaining law and order in the Republic of Korea. |
Nice jab at Americans to justify this crap.
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This was in today�s paper.
�충남 천안경찰서는 1일 귀가하는 여성을 성폭행하고 돈을 빼앗은 혐의(강도강간)로 구모(26.택시기사)씨에 대해 구속영장을 신청했다.
경찰에 따르면 구씨는 지난 31일 오전 2시50분께 집으로 가기 위해 택시를 탄 A(30.주부)씨를 마구 때려 기절시킨 뒤 천안시 성남면 화성리 야산으로 끌고가 성폭행하고 현금 9천원을 빼앗은 혐의를 받고 있다. (천안=연합뉴스)�
Chungnam police requested arrest warrant for Mr.Goo(26,taxi driver) for charges of rape and robbery. According to police, he beat Mrs. A(30,housewife), who got on the taxi at 2:50 AM to return home, senseless till she passed out. He took her to a mountain near ChunAn, raped her and took $9 in cash.
You got to watch out for these taxi drivers. Some of them just lose it. Especially in the wee hours of the morning. At least in this case, he did not kill her and bury her in the mountain side. A New York taxi driver would have. |
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/03/31/korea-a-crime-ridden-hellhole/
| Quote: |
Crime
Although the crime rate in the Republic of Korea is low, there is a higher incidence of pick-pocketing, purse snatching, assault, burglary (in hotel rooms and private residences), and other crime in major metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and Busan, than elsewhere in Korea. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure valuables are secure. You should exercise normal safety precautions and ensure your valuables are secure, especially in known tourist areas, such as Itaewon and other large market areas.
Incidents of rape have been reported in popular nightlife districts of Seoul, as well as in private residences. You should exercise caution when travelling alone at night and you should use only legitimate taxis or public transportation. For more information see Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad.
For emergency assistance, call 112 for police (an interpretation service is available during working hours) and 119 for ambulance and fire. The Korean National Police operates a 24-hour, seven day a week Central Interpretation Centre where foreigners can report crimes (in Seoul Tel: 313-0842; elsewhere Tel: +2-313 0842).
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad. |
It's big enough to merit a warning in a UK travel guide.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/republic-korea
More from Sparkling Korea.
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Sexual Assaults Haunt Nation
By Kim Rahn. [email protected]. 03-03-2006
Recent sexual assaults and harassments are surprising South Koreans, especially women. Victims range from elementary schoolchildren to a 90-year-old woman, while perpetrators range from a shop owner to a lawmaker.
Civic groups are calling for drastic changes to the way the public view sexual violence, and the government is looking for ways to tighten punitive measures on sex crimes.
Last month, people were shocked by a case in which an 11-year-old elementary schoolgirl in Seoul was sexually assaulted and killed by a 53-year-old man with a record of nine sex offenses.
Last weekend, a 23-year-old soldier was also arrested for sexually assaulting seven elementary schoolgirls since 2004 in Pochon, Kyonggi Province, while a 32-year-old man was arrested for raping 24 women and taking money from them since 2004.
A 55-year-old man was Friday arrested for trying to rape a 90-year-old woman in Seoul.
Recently, a 16-year-old girl, identified as Song, was sexually assaulted by a 25-year-old man whom Song became acquainted with in a computer chat room.
Worried about pregnancy, Song visited a pharmacy to buy morning-after-pills, but an employee at the pharmacy took Song to the dispensary, saying he would tell her how to use the pills, and sexually harassed the girl.
Song told the story to a 25-year-old man through computer chatting. The man took Song to a bar saying he would give counseling, but raped Song after getting her drunk.
She took a cab to report the man to the police. The taxi driver, who consoled her and asked the reason for going to the police station, sexually assaulted the girl again in a parking lot.
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http://www.orientexpat.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6787
Rape is not a problem is South Korea so hospitals are not prepared I guess.
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Hankyoreh: South Korean Hospitals Failing Rape Victims
Reporters from the magazine Hankyoreh21 recently surveyed the state of affairs met by rape victims who seek treatment at hospitals in Seoul and Busan and found that the doctors and nurses are either inexperienced or indifferent to their proper treatment, don�t know that the government has designated their hospitals specifially for that purpose, and don�t keep rape kits on hand despite being able to get them for free. |
http://koreabeat.com/?p=832 |
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aboxofchocolates
Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Location: on your mind
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
Taxi driver's rape conviction overturned
by Min Seong-jae, JoongAng Daily (May 16, 2004)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2414898
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The Seoul High Court yesterday overturned the conviction by a lower court of a 49-year old taxi driver who had been charged with the rape of a 19-year old U.S. female soldier. The man had received a 10-month prison term in the original trial after being convicted of luring the newly-arrived servicewoman from Incheon International Airport to a hotel near there where the woman said he raped her....
The appeals court ruled that the woman had shown no evidence of having refused the man's advances, and that he used "not enough violence to constitute rape." |
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I'm about to hulk right out.... |
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aboxofchocolates
Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Location: on your mind
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:06 am Post subject: |
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What the hell is wrong with people? What the hell is it, you don�t fight tooth and nail and risk being permanently scarred or killed you forfeit your right to decide who puts what into your body? Mother��. I am not going to really swear and risk having this thread deleted. Teachers should know about this, foreign women teachers should have a big warning label stamped on the top of their contracts saying �feminism did not reach this god forsaken bit of the planet and you are no longer protected. You are in danger and the law is not on your side.� When I first came here my hagwon owner drove me to my new apartment and pointed out all of the women on the streets late at night and said �see how safe Korea is�. My western guy friends went on at great length about how low the crime rate was and how little danger there was to be wandering around at night. Newbs believe that crap, keep it to yourself!!
I love a lot of my friends here in korea, but I just want to smack at least ninety percent of the people I talk to, Korean and foreigner alike, and just say �for the love of whoever you think is holy this place is NOT RIGHT for women!! Fix it!!� And then I want to go find those genuinely sexist people who have been educated in the post- feminist movement education system and are none the less advocating this inequality and I want to shove foreign objects into their orifices against their will and then drag them to a court where they won�t see a bit of justice and watch as people treat them like crazy men or pariahs for the rest of their lives because of what someone else did to them.
I am so angry right now. It was international women�s day a couple of days ago. Did you know? |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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| aboxofchocolates wrote: |
[snip]...advocating this inequality and I want to shove foreign objects into their orifices against their will ...[/snip]
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You're all talk and no show us pics  |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject: Re: Crime wave has women on edge |
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| wylies99 wrote: |
| Crime wave has women on edge |
Goddamn foreign teachers are at it again! ... no, wait... |
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mayorgc
Joined: 19 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| where can i buy mace/pepper spray? |
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RJjr
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Turning on a Lamp
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Have any males on here ever had a Korean female to offer "some guys" to pick you up in a car and take you to her place? If so, how did that work out? |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:03 am Post subject: |
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| RJjr wrote: |
| Have any males on here ever had a Korean female to offer "some guys" to pick you up in a car and take you to her place? If so, how did that work out? |
Huh? Are you saying something bad about Korean women? |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| mayorgc wrote: |
| where can i buy mace/pepper spray? |
It's not legal to carry it in Korea. It was only last month (2 months ago?) a Korean man was arrested for selling it online. |
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aboxofchocolates
Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Location: on your mind
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:30 am Post subject: |
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| Young FRANKenstein wrote: |
| mayorgc wrote: |
| where can i buy mace/pepper spray? |
It's not legal to carry it in Korea. It was only last month (2 months ago?) a Korean man was arrested for selling it online. |
I can't recall hearing anything about self defense classes in Korea, either. I think your defense is to stay in your home under the watchful eye of your parents or husband where you belong. Sort of reminds me of a book I read where the girls had to play near the steps in the playground because every other part of it was "boy territory". Still feeling the rage, here.
If you can find pepper spray, get a dave's sock account and post where you got it from a PC bang. |
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