The Station with the Highest Number of Railroad Sex Crimes is Suwon Station

People Power Party Rep. Kim Seon-gyo, Korail & Railroad Special Judicial Police Audit Data
"Increase CCTV Installation in Electric Trains Where Crimes Frequently Occur"

The most common type of crime on the railway is sex crimes, and the station with the highest number of sex crimes is Suwon Station. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] Among railway crimes, the most common type is sex crimes, and the station with the highest number of sex crimes is Suwon Station.

According to data received by Kim Seon-gyo, a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the People Power Party, from Korail and the Railway Special Judicial Police, a total of 12,734 railway crimes have occurred from 2017 until August of this year.

By type, sex crimes accounted for 36.4% (4,631 cases), other crimes such as embezzlement of lost property and property damage 30.8% (3,921 cases), injury and assault 15.6% (1,987 cases), theft 14.4% (1,837 cases), and violations of the Railway Safety Act such as railway vehicle damage and obstruction of crew duties 7.4% (948 cases).

Suwon Station recorded 173 cases, the highest number of sex crimes since 2017. The second highest station for sex crimes was Migeum Station with 71 cases, followed by Daejeon Station with 67 cases, Anyang Station with 57 cases, and Seoul Station with 54 cases.

Looking at the crime status inside railway trains (based on last year), crimes, especially sex crimes, are more frequent inside electric trains, which have many car formations. High-speed trains such as KTX and regular trains such as Saemaeul-ho had relatively lower crime rates.

Nevertheless, as of last month, the CCTV installation rate on Korail electric trains (330 trains) was only 45% (150 trains), meaning more than half of the trains lack CCTV, raising concerns about passenger safety.

Korail plans to complete the installation on 95 of the 180 trains currently without CCTV by the end of this year, and replace the 85 trains scheduled for retirement with trains equipped with CCTV by June next year.

Assemblyman Kim emphasized, "We need to establish detailed prevention measures based on crime rate analysis during vulnerable times and blind spots so that the public can use the railway with peace of mind."