Holiday Violence, 45% Higher Than Usual
Holidays, when the table is laden with food and families gather, are supposed to be a time for "home," but not everyone may feel at peace. When alcohol is involved or arguments drag on, pent-up emotions or feelings of resentment can instantly escalate into violence. There are growing concerns that domestic violence may occur again during this holiday, calling for heightened vigilance.
According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to People Power Party lawmaker Lee Sungkwon, a member of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee, on the 18th, there were 20,909 reports of domestic violence filed in January last year, of which 4,979 cases (23.8%, with 207 people apprehended) occurred during the six days of the Lunar New Year holiday. Over the five years since 2020, an average of 895 domestic violence reports per day have been filed during holiday periods. This is about 45% higher than the average of 621 daily reports during normal times. In other words, the risk of domestic violence rises significantly during holidays, when families spend more time at home, compared with ordinary days.
Indeed, during the Chuseok holiday last year in Nowon-gu, Seoul, a man in his 60s, drunk at the time, wielded a weapon in a fight with his wife after she said she would not visit the eldest brother-in-law’s house during the holiday. Their son, who tried to stop the altercation, was also injured.
This pattern is analyzed as being driven by holiday-specific circumstances that amplify conflicts. Kwak Daekyung, a professor at the College of Police and Criminal Justice at Dongguk University, said, "During holidays, long-standing conflicts over money and relationships, such as inheritance of family property or caring for parents, are likely to surface when relatives gather together," adding, "When heavy drinking is added to this, emotions that are usually suppressed can sometimes spill over into violence."
There is also a need for administrative systems to help resolve conflicts within families. Professor Kwak said, "We need administrative systems such as counseling and education programs that can help resolve conflicts through dialogue and communication," and added, "It is also important to build structures that can respond to crises through community networks, based on attention and concern for one’s neighbors."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
