[Exclusive] COVID-19 Changed Even the 'Jopok'... Six Gangs Disappeared and Violent Offenders Decreased

<How COVID-19 Changed the Crime Landscape>
1. From Nightlife to Online... The Changing Gangs

Decline in Violence and Extortion Amid Business Downturn
Gang Arrests Down 11% in 5 Years
Illegal Gambling Sites and Drug Distribution
Crimes Diversify Increasingly in Contactless Forms

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] COVID-19 has even changed the landscape of organized crime groups (jopok). As entertainment districts and commercial areas collapsed due to COVID-19, crimes such as disputes over interests, violence, and extortion centered around these areas have decreased. On the other hand, non-face-to-face (untact) crimes such as illegal gambling site operations and drug distribution have shown trends of diversification and sophistication.

According to the ‘2020 Status of Violent Organizations’ data obtained by Asia Economy from the National Police Agency on the 8th, there are currently a total of 206 groups with 5,211 members active nationwide. This only includes organizations under focused police management and executive-level members, so the actual number of active jopok is likely higher.

By region, Gyeonggi Southern area, including cities where jopok have long been active such as Suwon, Seongnam, and Anyang, had the highest number with 22 groups (640 members). This was followed by Seoul (22 groups, 519 members), Busan (21 groups, 403 members), and Gyeongnam (20 groups, 374 members). A notable point is the overall decrease in violent organizations. In particular, the decline of local jopok has accelerated due to COVID-19. Compared to two years ago in 2018, six groups have disappeared. Three groups vanished in Gangwon, two in Daejeon, and one each in Gyeonggi Southern and Incheon. The only region that saw an increase was Gyeongnam, but this was limited to just one group.

As the total number of jopok decreased, related crimes also declined. Last year, 2,817 jopok were arrested by the police, about 11% fewer than five years ago (3,160). Especially in violent crimes, the number dropped from 1,800 to 1,226, a 31.9% decrease, and extortion crimes fell from 356 to 225, a 36.8% decrease. The police attribute this to the severe impact COVID-19 had on entertainment districts, the traditional activity areas of jopok. Due to social distancing measures, there were many days when businesses could not open at all, making disputes over interests in entertainment districts virtually meaningless, which naturally led to a reduction in conflicts between jopok and extortion activities such as demands for protection money.

Jopok, finding it difficult to profit from their traditional ‘food sources,’ sought new avenues in cybercrime and other areas. In December last year, 29 jopok members from the Gwangju area in Jeonnam were arrested for operating illegal gambling sites worth around 100 billion won and creating and distributing fake bank accounts. Earlier in November of the same year, 40 members of a jopok group in Daegu were indicted for raising 190 billion won through a fake stock futures site operated with call centers and servers in China. Recently, 16 jopok members were caught by the police for pocketing 475 million won by exploiting a 10% discount on local currency purchase costs through false payments.

As evidence of this, the number of jopok caught for illegal gambling site operations and other gambling-related illegal businesses last year was 245, more than double the 92 recorded five years ago. Additionally, other jopok crimes not separately classified, including various intelligent crimes, increased from 855 cases to 1,071 cases. Drug-related crimes by jopok also remain prevalent, with 50 arrests made last year. Although the power of jopok groups has decreased, it cannot be said that their influence has been completely broken.

The war against jopok is ongoing. The police operate 302 dedicated investigation teams nationwide, centered on the violent crime investigation units of the provincial police agencies.

A police official said, "We are promoting special crackdowns that can concentrate investigative power in a short period and year-round crackdowns. We are strengthening patrols in areas where jopok activities are expected and conducting preventive activities such as focused crackdowns on various acts that cause public unease."

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