The Stigma of 'Sex Crime City' Milyang... Examining the Crime Rate [News Explanation]

(25) Is Miryang a 'Sex Crime City'? Fact Check
57 Sex Crimes... Lower Than National Average

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Criticism continues to be directed at Miryang City, Gyeongnam, in connection with the group sexual assault case involving middle school girls. As regional hatred spread with claims that "Miryang is a city of sex crimes," the local government head issued an official apology. On the city’s website complaint board, unverified posts such as "a dangerous city for women traveling alone" and "a place where sex offenders live" were also posted.

On the 29th, a review of the police statistics on crime occurrence by region showed that the claim that "Miryang City is a city of sex crimes" lacked evidence. In 2022, the total number of criminal cases filed nationwide for sex crimes (rape, quasi-rape, sexual assault, other rape and sexual assault, and sex-related crimes) was 45,153. By crime category, there were ▲5,467 cases of rape ▲947 cases of quasi-rape ▲15,864 cases of sexual assault ▲225 cases of other rape and sexual assault ▲22,650 cases of sex-related crimes.

Among these, Miryang City reported ▲6 cases of rape ▲0 cases of quasi-rape ▲23 cases of sexual assault ▲1 case of other rape and sexual assault ▲27 cases of sex-related crimes, totaling 57 cases. During the same period, Gyeongnam Province, to which Miryang belongs, had a total of 1,945 cases. In contrast, Seoul and Gyeonggi, with larger populations, recorded over 10,000 sex crime cases each, with 10,736 and 10,565 cases respectively.

However, since population sizes differ by region, it is necessary to consider the incidence rate. When directly calculating the 'crime incidence rate per 100,000 people,' a commonly used police crime indicator, limited to sex crimes, Miryang City had 57 cases. Miryang’s population is about 100,000. Compared to the national average of 87 cases, this is relatively low. Gyeongnam Province, which includes Miryang, also had a rate of 59 cases, below the average.

Among metropolitan municipalities, some have a sex crime incidence rate exceeding 100 cases per 100,000 people. In 2022, Seoul, with a population of 9.42 million, recorded 10,736 sex crime cases, resulting in a rate of 114 cases per 100,000 people. Following Seoul were ▲Jeju with 105 cases (population 670,000; 702 cases) ▲Daejeon with 102 cases (population 1.44 million; 1,469 cases) ▲Incheon with 100 cases (population 2.96 million; 2,954 cases).

Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi, which had been stigmatized as a city of sex crimes, also showed a rate below average. Hwaseong is known as the residence of Park Byunghwa, a serial rapist involved in the so-called 'Suwon Balbari' case, but its sex crime incidence rate per 100,000 people was 60 cases (population 910,000; 546 cases). However, Ansan City and Suwon City in Gyeonggi, where child rapist Jo Doosoon resided, showed higher rates than average, with 114 cases (population 640,000; 732 cases) and 101 cases (population 1.19 million; 1,212 cases) respectively.

Meanwhile, the Miryang group sexual assault case refers to an incident in December 2004 where 44 high school students in the Miryang area lured a middle school student living in Ulsan to Miryang and sexually assaulted him continuously for one year. At that time, only 10 of the perpetrators were prosecuted, and 7 of them were detained. Except for 20 who were sent to juvenile detention centers, the remaining perpetrators either reached a settlement with the victim or were not included in the complaint, resulting in a 'no prosecution' decision. Recently, 20 years later, the identities of the perpetrators were revealed through YouTube and other platforms, bringing the case back into public attention.

Currently, public outrage has not subsided. Just as the perpetrators in the Miryang middle school girl sexual assault case did not receive proper punishment, there is a growing atmosphere focusing on the possibility that other cases were also buried without public discussion. In particular, some local residents, including acquaintances of the perpetrators at the time, are reported to have committed secondary harm against the victim and protected the perpetrators, leading to widespread criticism of the entire local community.

Miryang City has issued an official apology. On the 25th, Mayor An Byunggu of Miryang expressed in an apology statement, "Once again, I extend my apologies to the victim and their family," and added, "We will do our best to create a safe and healthy city through reflection by the local community."