Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojusucks]

[rchristo10]

Considering how tattle-tale oriented Koreans seem to be, I honestly wouldn't doubt that the crime rate is higher simply because people report things here with somewhat ritualistic fervor. Could be caused by the out-of-court settlement system in place here. Who knows?

I bet the figures would even be 10 times higher if it were about reported illnesses.

[v88]

Problem with looking at violent crime is both the difference in definition and application. Tends to show more what police are doing rather than the crime itself.

Canada, The UK and Australia all have violent crimes rates roughly double that of the States despite the US having significantly higher homicide rates (closer to Pakistan than Canuckistan).

From what I've read, most academics use the homicide rate to compare the violence of any given country with another but shy away from violent crime due to bias.

Gun lovers claim the violent crime rate is lower because guns deter violence, others claim that places like Canada and Aus are just more willing to charge people with minor violent offences. Tough to say why exactly Korea's rates would be so high, but given how low the US is compared to many other countries, perhaps it would be best to ask why the US logs so little violent crime.

Being a Canuck, I'm inclined to believe that American cops are far more worried about homicides, shootings, gangs and drugs to spend too much time on minor violent crimes (i.e. hitting some guy). Since Korean cops do very little and many crimes can be "paid off" rather than face legal action I'm a bit surprised at Korea's number however.

[v88]

in 2009 Korea had a murder rate of 2.9 per 100,000 people.
in 2009 the US had a murder rate of 5 per 100,000 people

Same year:
Canada 1.8
Australia 1.4
The UK 1.2
Germany 0.9
Japan 0.4

[rchristo10]

[fermentation]

I guess it's all a matter of perception. Like I mentioned in another thread, certain places in the US have really bad reputations of being violent. I've been areas people warned me about and I became paranoid enough to be constantly on the look out. I expected to have at least one person try to rob me or assault me in my 10 years in the US, but nothing of that sort ever happened.

In contrast, Korea as a whole feels a lot more safe and I worry about crimes (the more direct ones) a lot less although I try not to ever underestimate criminals wherever I go. But the women I talk to make it seem like it's a constant struggle to not get sexually harassed on a daily basis. My cousin (male) also told me about the times he got jumped or robbed. He makes it seem those kinds of things happen a lot but it's hard for me picture that happening to me as an adult Korean, and my cousin is older and taller than me. I've heard stories of thugs beating people up and robbing them from guys in my army unit as well.

A few years ago, a guy in my aunt's neighborhood smashed another guy's head in with a hammer for some really petty reason I can't remember. My mother's friend's daughter was also stabbed near the Han river by some lunatic. Statistics don't seem real in comparison to things actually happening around you.

Regarding the stats, I have a few questions/comments

They mentioned school violence, but what do they mean by school violence? Is two kids getting in a fight considered assault? Did that include the beat-downs dished out by the teachers? Because then the crime stats would sky rocket. Same goes for parents who beat their kids.

It explains why so many apartment complexes have so much security even though I used to think it seemed unnecessary and superfluous.

In my totally unprofessional, uneducated opinion, it seems that most of the violent crimes committed by Koreans are against people they deem lower than them. Koreans as a whole seem a lot less confrontational compared to Americans. I think it's why there seems to be a lot of sex related crimes against women and children and domestic violence. In contrast, a guy beating down a random ajoshi is probably a much rarer occurrence.

[minos]

Alot of violence in Korea is purely private. Inside the home, among family, etc.

Look at Korea's parliament. If these public figures are duking it out on TV, just imagine the home.

Also, police are pretty much useless. I experienced quite alot of crime in S.Korea once I started working out the office. Usually petty theivery being the most common.

Going to the police = wasting time or possibly getting fired(cops call you for appoints randomly or give inaccurate details). Cops do not care that you have a 9-5 job.

[Noliving]

[Andromeda]

[chungbukdo]

[chungbukdo]

[Milwaukiedave]

I believe the statistics are available because I've found them on the KPA website for research in a paper. Whether they are accurate or not, I don't know.

A couple of things to keep in mind though:

One, Koreans can't have guns

Two, the way statistics are reported are probably different.

Three, the younger generation is becoming more interested in movies and television with violence as well as video games which are violent. That will eventually increase the crime rate as these kids become adults.

[fermentation]

[rainman3277]

[Mr. BlackCat]