Pushing, Snatching, Setting Fires... New York Commuters Say "Who Would Dare Take the Subway?"

Last Year, 573 Major Crimes Occurred in New York Subway
Highest Number of Major Crimes Since 1997

Reports have emerged that office workers in New York City are living in great fear as violent crimes continue to occur in the subway system.

On the 6th, Bloomberg News cited research from the Columbia University Law School research group 'Vital City,' reporting that there were 573 serious crimes in the New York subway in 2024. This is the highest number of serious crimes recorded since 1997.

Reports have emerged that office workers are trembling with great fear as violent crimes continue to occur in the New York City subway. Photo by AP and Yonhap News.

In particular, subway homicides were recorded at 10 cases, double the number from the previous year. Bloomberg assessed, "Despite numerous countermeasures, 2024 was the most dangerous year for subway riders in decades." Furthermore, Bloomberg reported that while employers want employees to return to the workplace instead of working remotely, fear of crime is a factor discouraging them from returning to the office.

On the 31st of last month, a man in his 20s suddenly pushed another man who was waiting for a train on a subway platform in the heart of Manhattan, New York. Fortunately, the victim survived but suffered serious injuries including a skull fracture. On New Year's Day, the 1st, a passenger was attacked with a weapon at a subway station near Columbia University in New York. On the 22nd of last month, a shocking incident occurred at a subway station near the Coney Island amusement park in New York, where a man in his 30s, an undocumented immigrant, set fire to a sleeping woman in a train car, resulting in her death. New York City plans to increase the installation of safety fences within subway stations. Currently, only 14 subway stations in New York City have safety fences installed.

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York State and Mayor Eric Adams of New York City increased police deployment within subway stations last year and even mobilized the National Guard to strengthen inspections and searches to ensure public transportation safety, but some critics argue that these measures have not yielded significant results. Reuters·Yonhap News

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams increased police deployment within subway stations last year and even mobilized the National Guard to strengthen inspections and searches to ensure public transportation safety, but some critics say these measures have had little effect. Governor Hochul emphasized regarding New York subway crime, "We have a duty to protect citizens from random acts of violence," adding, "The only fair and compassionate solution is to provide the necessary help to the citizens."