[Subway Crime]② Surpassed Sexual Harassment... What Is the Most Frequent Crime in the Subway?

Various Crimes Including Illegal Filming, Sexual Harassment, Theft, and Fare Evasion Occur
Famous People Also Involved... Experts Say "Subway Environment Stimulates Criminal Psychology"

As various subway crimes such as illegal filming, sexual harassment, and theft increase, experts point out that the spatial characteristics of the subway can stimulate criminal psychology.

'Subway Crimes' Return to Pre-COVID Levels

According to data on the 'Recent 4-Year Subway Crime Occurrence Status' received by Rep. Jeong Woo-taek of the People Power Party from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 22nd, subway crimes last year recorded 3,378 cases. This is a significant increase compared to the annual 2,000-level cases from 2019 to 2021. By year, the number decreased from 2,755 cases in 2019 to 2,673 in 2020 when COVID-19 broke out, and 2,619 in 2021, but surpassed 3,000 last year.

A police official said, "With the stabilization of the COVID-19 situation and the increase in floating population, subway crimes are increasing."

The most common type of crime was misappropriation of lost property, where other passengers take items forgotten on the subway, with 1,371 cases. This was followed by theft (789 cases), sexual harassment (788 cases), and illegal filming (430 cases).

'Psychological Factors and Lack of CCTV' Fuel Crimes

Subway crimes have the unique characteristic that not only habitual offenders but also ordinary citizens can commit them. Celebrities and public officials are no exception. In 2019, a famous anchor from a public broadcasting station was caught on the spot for illegal filming on the subway and was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation. A senior official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, who was a candidate for the vice minister position, was also arrested on the spot for illegal filming on the subway. Foreigners have also been caught committing illegal acts on the subway. On the 15th at around 9:40 p.m., an Uzbek national, Mr. A, was caught by the police for secretly taking photos of four women sitting opposite him on Seoul Subway Line 5.

Experts analyze that the reason why 'anyone can participate' in subway crimes is due to the psychological factor that perpetrators believe they will not be caught even if they commit crimes in the subway.

Professor Lim Myung-ho of Dankook University's Department of Psychology said, "The subway has a high population density, making it easy to find crime targets," adding, "Also, in a crowded subway, illegal acts are less likely to be noticed or detected, and it is easy to escape, so psychologically, the subway has a strong inducement effect for crimes." He added, "Desires suppressed during the COVID-19 period are erupting, leading to increases in theft, violence, and sex crimes." Professor Lim advised that conducting surveys on subway crimes and diagnosing specific crime situations would help prevent crimes.

Professor Choi Seong-ho of Hanyang Cyber University’s Department of Design analyzed in the 'Research Report on Problems of Subway Incidents and Accidents and Directions for Safety System Establishment' that the spatial characteristic of being underground and the fact that many people use the transportation means in a short time provide opportunities for various crimes. Professor Choi pointed out, "Situational and environmental characteristics can instill in potential criminals the perception that even if they commit crimes, they will not be easily detected."

Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of Konkuk University's Department of Police Science said, "In the case of subway sex crimes, since there is physical closeness and contact, it stimulates and realizes the distorted sexual desires of potential offenders," adding, "Regardless of the type of crime, establishing systems and environments to ensure that crimes committed in the subway are always detected and punished is necessary to prevent subway crimes."