Citizen Anxiety Grows After Subway Shoving Incident
Authorities Respond as Horrific Crimes Occur One After Another
A photo taken by a U.S. netizen at a New York subway platform has become a hot topic locally. On the 6th (local time), a U.S. netizen shared a photo on social media showing citizens waiting for the subway at a New York subway platform. In the photo, all the citizens are standing as far away from the tracks as possible, leaning against the wall. The netizen who posted the photo explained, "This shows how all citizens stand on the subway platform after the recent 'subway pushing' incident," calling it "a glimpse into a society with low trust."
Previously, a 'subway pushing' crime occurred at a subway station in New York City. Subway pushing refers to the crime of suddenly pushing a passenger onto the tracks as the train is arriving. It is presumed that the citizens in the photo are waiting for the subway while standing far away from the tracks due to concerns about subway pushing crimes. The photo has recorded over 2.31 million views on X (formerly Twitter). Local netizens expressed empathy, saying, "I also stand like that on the subway platform when going to work," "No one can blame those who stand like that," and "You never know who might commit a terrible act."
Recently, horrific crimes have occurred consecutively in the New York subway, causing the city authorities to be on alert. On the afternoon of the 31st of last month, around 1:30 PM, at the Manhattan 18th Street subway station platform, a man suddenly pushed another man waiting for the train onto the tracks and fled. The man who fell onto the tracks was seriously injured but fortunately is in stable condition. On the 22nd of last month, a Guatemalan man was arrested on charges of setting fire to the clothes and blanket of a woman sleeping on the train, resulting in her death.
According to a recent report by Bloomberg, there were 573 major crimes in the U.S. subway system last year, the highest number since 1997. In particular, the number of homicides was reported to be twice as high as in 2023. Getty Images·Yonhap News Agency
Additionally, in March last year, at the Lexington Avenue 125th Street platform, a man in his 20s pushed a man in his 50s waiting for the subway onto the tracks, causing him to be hit by a train and die. In January 2022, there was also an incident near the New York Times Square subway station where a man in his 60s pushed an Asian woman onto the tracks, resulting in her death. According to a recent Bloomberg report, there were 573 major crimes in U.S. subways last year, the highest number since 1997. In particular, the number of murders was twice that of 2023.
In response, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced plans to increase the installation of safety fences inside subway stations using revenue from the newly introduced $9 (approximately 13,000 KRW) 'New York City Congestion Pricing' starting this year. New York Mayor Eric Adams also pointed out on his social media on the 2nd, "No form of violence can ever be tolerated in our subway system," adding, "These random acts of violence make New Yorkers feel unsafe."
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