Increase in 'Anger Crimes' Amid Prolonged COVID-19... Series of Random Assaults and Terror Attacks

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] As the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs, social dissatisfaction and stress are intensifying, leading to an increase in 'anger crimes.' Cases of individuals expressing their anger and assaulting random strangers they do not even know are on the rise.

According to the police on the 26th, the Mapo Police Station in Seoul booked a man identified as Mr. A on charges of special assault for spraying self-defense spray on three pedestrians near Hongdae Entrance Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, around 4 a.m. the previous day. Mr. A reportedly sprayed one man first, then sprayed another woman and man each about 100 meters away. One of the victims subdued Mr. A and handed him over to the police. At the time of the crime, Mr. A was reportedly intoxicated and had no prior acquaintance with the victims.

Earlier, around 3 p.m. on the 22nd, a man in his 20s, Mr. B, assaulted a man in his 70s with fists and feet in the lobby of an apartment in Mapo-gu, Seoul, because "their eyes met." The victim suffered severe injuries, including fractures to the face and arms. The man was eventually arrested on the 24th.

Concerns are rising that impulsive crimes due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation will increase. In fact, the number of people suffering from 'mood disorders' is steadily growing. Medically, mood disorders refer to conditions where emotional regulation, such as anger, is difficult, and abnormal situations persist for a long time.

Representative disorders include depression and mania. According to the National Health Insurance Service's five-year health insurance treatment data, the cumulative number of people treated for mood disorders increased from 777,781 in 2016 to 1,016,727 last year, an increase of 238,946 (30.7%). In 2017, the number increased by 39,078 compared to the previous year, but last year, it rose by 53,488 compared to 2019, showing a steep upward trend. By age group, young adults were found to be the most vulnerable. Among the 1,016,727 patients with mood disorders last year, those in their 20s accounted for 170,987 (16.8%), the highest proportion. They were followed by those in their 60s with 164,401 (16.2%) and those in their 50s with 146,661 (14.4%).

Experts believe that recent random and anger crimes are related to economic difficulties and stress caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

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