Gathering in Small Groups for Drinking and Smoking
Passersby Hurry with Uneasy Steps
Theft and Paid Meetings for Pocket Money
"It's Wrong, But As Long As We Don't Get Caught"
At-Risk Youths Sinking into Crime
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] On the afternoon of the 11th, at Wolmido Theme Park in Jung-gu, Incheon, citizens visiting Wolmido for the weekend enjoyed their time riding amusement rides or buying street food. Then, at 10 p.m., following social distancing measures, visitors in family or couple groups gradually left. The amusement rides' lights went off, and restaurants took down their signs, bringing darkness to Wolmido.
What remained in the darkened corners of Wolmido were youthful-faced teenagers. Teenagers appearing to be in their late teens to early twenties gathered in small groups, smoking cigarettes or gulping down beer cans obtained from unknown sources. When a woman coming out of a nearby hotel purchased a lot of snacks at a convenience store, some of the teenagers whistled at her. The woman hurried back to the hotel with a worried expression. The wandering of runaway youths that began in the deserted Wolmido continued until dawn.
Most of them are runaway youths (out-of-home youths) who left home and could not find a place to stay. Also called ‘Ga-Cheong,’ they spend the night here with other runaway youths or, in some cases, seek ‘helpers’?adults who provide lodging or pocket money in exchange for sexual relations or similar acts?targeting adults visiting Wolmido in the early morning hours.
A (17), whom we met in Wolmido, said, "When I run out of money, I do errands for the older guys and get a little pocket money." He added, "I know it's wrong, but the older guys pressure me by saying 'If you don't get caught, it's fine,' and since I need money, I have no choice." The errands A mentioned included clear crimes such as theft and scams involving arranged meetings.
Runaway youths who leave home to escape parental control become targets of crime or get involved in crimes themselves as perpetrators. According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's youth statistics, last year, the number of runaway youths reached 115,741.
In fact, eight people, including two men in their twenties who provided lodging to runaway youths in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, and made them steal money from a jewelry store and an unmanned claw machine arcade, were arrested by the police. Also, a former art academy instructor who helped a female middle school student runaway and kept her under the pretext of protection was sentenced to prison for molestation. Additionally, multiple men in their twenties and teens were arrested en masse for committing sexual crimes such as sexual assault against runaway female minors.
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