"Men Are Scary..." Targeting Only Women with Spitting and Backstabbing... Controversy Over 'Random Crimes Against Women' Hate

20s Male Arrested for Targeting Women and Striking Them from Behind in Broad Daylight in Gangnam
20s Male Also Spat on Dozens of Women... Pregnant Women Among Victims
"Feared Retaliation After Spitting on Men," Statement
Random Attacks Targeting Women Sometimes Lead to Murder
Expert: "Expressing Anger Toward Those Weaker Than Oneself"

The area around Gangnam Station in Seoul bustling with citizens. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Voices condemning a man who assaulted women in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul, are growing louder. The man is accused of deliberately targeting women he had never met before, striking the back of their heads.

As a result, criticism has arisen labeling this as a 'misogynistic crime.' There are concerns that the perpetrator, who might have been physically weaker than some men, intentionally chose only women to commit these horrific acts.

In a similar case, public outrage erupted when it was revealed that one of the victims was pregnant. The man, who was apprehended by the police, confessed that he deliberately avoided men and targeted only women. Experts criticized this as an expression of anger directed solely at the vulnerable.

According to media reports on the 30th, a man in his 20s, identified as Mr. A, who struck women on the back of their heads near Gangnam Station and fled, was arrested by the police on the 28th. Mr. A is suspected of hitting the backs of heads of women passing near Gangnam Station four times from early this month until recently and then fleeing. The victims, women in their 30s and 40s, were all strangers to Mr. A.

The police identified the suspect through analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) near the crime scenes and arrested Mr. A during a stakeout near Gangnam Station. It was confirmed that he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the crimes. He reportedly committed the assaults regardless of day or night.

This type of misogynistic crime, where only women are targeted for assault, is not unprecedented. On the 21st, a man in his 20s, Mr. B, who followed women while making spitting sounds and then fled, was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

Mr. B is accused of riding a bicycle wearing a mask in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, during July and August last year, making spitting sounds near women's faces and fleeing. There were 23 victims in total, including one pregnant woman, which sparked public outrage.

At his first trial held around November last year, Mr. B admitted all charges and explained, "I thought I would suffer if I spat at men and that the situation would escalate," as the reason for targeting only women. When the judge asked if he only targeted those weaker than himself, Mr. B replied, "Yes."

Such 'random crimes' against women continue unabated. According to statistics on assault and murder cases against women since 2015, submitted by the National Police Agency to Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Chunsuk last year, assault cases against women reached 52,876 in 2019. This represents about a 16% increase compared to 45,306 cases in 2015.

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Given this situation, women reportedly feel greater anxiety about crime in their daily lives compared to men. Especially in the case of 'random crimes,' which occur indiscriminately against unspecified individuals regardless of time and place, women are known to experience heightened fear.

Office worker Ms. C (27, female) expressed frustration, saying, "I don't understand why crimes targeting women happen so frequently. I've never heard of assaults against men who appear physically stronger than the perpetrator."

Regarding the recent incident, she said, "I don't understand why we have to endure such things just because we are women. Especially the case at Gangnam Station seems like a crime committed by deliberately choosing women. Just because women are physically weaker doesn't mean they are in a subordinate position. Crimes against women should be punished more severely."

Another office worker, Ms. D (28, female), said, "A significant number of victims of random crimes are women. The perpetrators ultimately vent their anger on women who appear weaker. It's scary that such crimes against women keep happening. You never know when or where it might happen, so I feel more anxious. I recently bought a self-defense spray," she confessed.

Women’s anxiety about crime is also reflected in statistics. According to the '2020 Statistics on Women's Lives' (Statistics Korea and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family), the proportion of women who feel fear of crime was 57% in 2018, down from 73.3% in 2016, but still higher than men at 44.5%.

Random crimes have sometimes escalated to murder. In July last year, a man in his 20s in Inje, Gangwon Province, stabbed a 50-year-old female hiker, whom he did not know, multiple times with a weapon, resulting in her death.

The perpetrator reportedly wrote in his diary statements such as "Most people are rude," "I have the right to judge and kill others," and "I will kill indiscriminately but basically need to kill 100 to 200 people."

In Jeju, Kang, a man in his 20s who murdered a woman returning home after finishing work at a convenience store to make a living, was arrested on September 3rd last year. The photo is a CCTV capture showing Mr. A, wearing a black mask, getting out of his own van on August 30th, the day the incident occurred.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, in September of the same year, a man in his 20s in Jeju sparked controversy by killing a woman on her way home after finishing work at a convenience store for no apparent reason.

At that time, the man followed the woman, dragged her to a field, and threatened her with a prepared weapon. When the victim resisted, he stabbed her multiple times in the neck and chest, killing her. Afterwards, he stole her credit card and purchased food and drinks worth 100,000 won in two transactions at a convenience store and a supermarket.

The motive for the murder was reportedly to gain favor with an internet BJ he liked, for whom he had borrowed tens of millions of won to buy gifts. Notably, immediately after the crime, he attempted to return to the scene to move the body in an effort to destroy evidence, but failed, dreaming of a perfect crime.

Experts analyze this as an expression of dissatisfaction with society directed at unspecified others. They point out that the perpetrator channels his anger toward women whom he can overpower.

Professor Kwak Geumju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology said, "There can be various reasons why perpetrators commit random crimes. First, they may have committed these crimes to vent their dissatisfaction with society. It may also be related to personal circumstances. When they experience something upsetting, they derive pleasure by expressing their anger toward women who are weaker than themselves," she criticized.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.