Five Major Violent Crimes Increase Again as COVID-19 Quarantine Measures Ease

Violent Crimes Decreased from 499,000 Cases in 2019 to 420,000, Then Rose Again to 451,000 Last Year

It has been revealed that the five major violent crimes in South Korea decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the full implementation of social distancing, but increased again as quarantine measures were eased.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Jeong Woo-taek, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the People Power Party, the five major crimes (murder, robbery, rape/sexual assault, theft, and violence) that occurred last year totaled 450,623 cases. This is a 7.4% increase compared to 419,683 cases in 2021.

Five Major Violent Crimes Increase Again as COVID-19 Quarantine Measures Ease

The five major crimes were 488,288 cases in 2018, 499,010 cases in 2019, then significantly decreased to 467,547 cases in 2020 and 419,683 cases in 2021. This decline is interpreted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the full implementation of social distancing.

However, as COVID-19 quarantine measures were relaxed last year, such as the lifting of the outdoor mask mandate, and the direction shifted toward recovery of daily life, the number of crimes also increased again.

By type, murders decreased from 775 cases in 2019 to 720 in 2020 and 652 in 2021, but rose again to 689 cases last year.

Rape and sexual assault cases decreased from 21,702 in 2020 to 20,267 in 2021, then increased to 22,582. The numbers of robbery, theft, and violence cases were 514, 182,141, and 244,697 respectively, showing increases of 3.8%, 9.6%, and 5.5% compared to 2021.

The number of arrests for the five major crimes also rose from 324,434 cases in 2021 to 345,156 cases last year.

Assemblyman Jeong Woo-taek stated, "Since the five major crimes cause irreparable harm to victims and are heinous offenses, it is necessary to ensure public safety through active investigations and strong punishments," adding, "Police crime prevention activities such as patrols should also be conducted more effectively."