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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 3:25 pm Post subject: Try not to look "suspicious" |
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http://news.sbs.co.kr/section_news/news_read.jsp?news_id=N1001359303
http://imnews.imbc.com/replay/nwtoday/article/3129530_5782.html
The gist:
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The police are conducting random street interrogations again in light of recent crimes.
They are targetting people in public who look suspicious and can ask for ID, question them and search their belongings. If you happen to have a "dangerous object" you can be brought in for questioning.
There are some concerns over civil rights. This practice was abolished back in 2010 for those reasons. Some are concerned this is nothing more than a show to the public; the police are trying to look like they're doing something.
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I'm obviously against this as I don't think it'll effectively prevent any crimes and being questioned for being "suspicious" is an obvious infringement of civil rights. If you want to interrogate me, I'll happily oblige if you have a warrant. And if there is a potential criminal, is he gonna be like, "Yeah, I was totally gonna kill someone until you stopped me!"
What worries me is the part of the "dangerous object." Is it considered dangerous if I carry a hammer to my grandma's house because she needs something fixed? I was planning to take some kitchen knives my mom doesn't use anymore to my girlfriend's house, does that mean I'll be taken in? What if I just bought a knife from the store and was carrying it home?
Also what is "suspicious?" I'd like to see some details on police protocol to see what consititutes "suspicion." Because some of the people they showed being questioned looked pretty normal to me.
That being said, its possible I'll probably go without being stopped once until they scrap this thing again. A lot of these police crackdowns are not implemented widely or with enough regularity to make a difference. I never been stopped or know of anyone being stopped when they had this policy in effect. Like so many things in this country, this is nothing more than a show. Anyone worried they'll start checking "suspicious looking" foreigners? |
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SpiralStaircase
Joined: 14 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| I am an American citizen sir. I know my rights. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, I heard about this from my wife and also explained my concerns to her. I think a lot for the k-public has been feeling a sense of worry from the "spat" of high profile crimes... but I really don't see how this will solve that (or prevent many). |
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viciousdinosaur
Joined: 30 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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I think the police have every right to question people. It's called doing their job. But is it going to solve crime? No, it won't. There are somethings that we just can't control. Our obsession with preventing every possible infraction has lead to Western nations, the US in particular, turning into police states. There are so many laws you probably break three laws just on your way to work. Being searched, stopped by a cop, and going to the courthouse are like yearly rituals, and we accept this as being normal.
We might not like it, but some crimes are just unpreventable. |
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coralreefer_1
Joined: 19 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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Honestly, I dont see this happening. I mean really, cops barely walk around ticketing parked cars, busting illegal food stalls or running up into all of the illegal prostitution houses...etc.
The cops HAVE to say something, but as we can pretty much guess it is likely empty words designed to placate the public into a sense that there is something police can and will do to stop/prevent such instances.
In regards to us foreigners, I'm pretty sure this is nothing new. We could have been approached by the police at any point and asked for our ID's before all of these recent incidents, and this was part what goes along with being a foreigner. |
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
| Yeah, I heard about this from my wife and also explained my concerns to her. I think a lot for the k-public has been feeling a sense of worry from the "spat" of high profile crimes... but I really don't see how this will solve that (or prevent many). |
I don't know how many people are on board with this though. The SBS report I linked said that most people are supporting this policy due to the rise in crime but the MBC report emphasized the civil rights issue more.
If I ever do get stopped, I plan to refuse and ask what it is that makes me suspicious. The MBC report mentioned this isn't 강제규정, meaning you are not obliged to comply, which makes this thing even more useless.
Captain, you were here before 2010 right? Did you notice people getting randomly searched? I haven't but I may not have been as observant as I am now. |
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coralreefer_1
Joined: 19 Jan 2009
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Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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I have seen people stopped and I personally have been stopped before. Maybe, it is just my location but it used to be a fairly common occurance. From my experience, they ask for your ID, look at it, and then send you on your way. I found it annoying as no one wants to be held up when you have some place to go but it certainly wasn't threatening. If I had a choice, I would vote against stopping people as it is annoying and I am not particularly worried about crime.
From my experience, the police hung out around subway stations but I wouldn't be surprised if they hung out more in high crime areas. They also seemed to target young people.
Near my house, there is a street full of Chinese shops. There is a big banner across tied at ends on either side of the street and even a few "traffic" signs which remind people that guns and knives are illegal in Korea.
My guess, and it is only a guess, the police are going to do these "stops" around areas with high foreign population, especially Chinese. But, probably any high crime areas.
And, again, this is only a guess, but in upper middle class areas and boring bedroom communities, you will never see them. |
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SpiralStaircase
Joined: 14 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| I think the police have every right to question people. It's called doing their job. |
My thoughts exactly.
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| being questioned for being "suspicious" is an obvious infringement of civil rights. If you want to interrogate me, I'll happily oblige if you have a warrant. |
Perhaps, but your definition of civil rights do not apply here. |
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figshdg
Joined: 01 May 2012
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| SpiralStaircase wrote: |
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| being questioned for being "suspicious" is an obvious infringement of civil rights. If you want to interrogate me, I'll happily oblige if you have a warrant. |
Perhaps, but your definition of civil rights do not apply here. |
The OP is a Korean national so his definition of civil rights most certainly do apply here. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| SpiralStaircase wrote: |
| I am an American citizen sir. I know my rights. |
No, you don't.
You are a foreigner and as such are required by law to produce either your passport or your ARC on demand (cause not required) by any competent authority (including police, immigration or the prosecutors office).
Failure to do so is a criminal offense (under immigration law) and grounds for your immediate arrest and detention until your identity is determined and your legal status in the country is confirmed then you will be subject to a fine for failure to comply with the original demand.
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| SpiralStaircase wrote: |
| Perhaps, but your definition of civil rights do not apply here. |
Korean human rights groups might disagree with you. There's a reason this was scrapped in 2010. I have the right to walk around outside in my own country not be treated like a criminal. |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| fermentation wrote: |
| SpiralStaircase wrote: |
| Perhaps, but your definition of civil rights do not apply here. |
Korean human rights groups might disagree with you. There's a reason this was scrapped in 2010. I have the right to walk around outside in my own country not be treated like a criminal. |
Are you a Korean citizen? |
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulsucker wrote: |
| Are you a Korean citizen? |
Yes |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
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| Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| I hope a motorcycle on a sidewalk is a dangerous object for questioning. |
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