Warm Weather and End of Distancing... Series of Early Morning Incidents Including 'Breaking Bottles and Sexual Harassment Disputes'

Repeated Assault and Molestation Incidents Overnight
Police Dispatches Up 10% Since the 4th
Seasonal Factors Analyzed for Mitigation Effect
Sharp Increase in Gatherings Expected After Capacity Limits Lifted

A food alley in Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporters Jang Sehee, Gong Byungseon, Oh Gyumin] Since the social distancing measures were lifted, incidents and accidents have been occurring one after another.

At around 3:10 a.m. on the 19th near a university area in Seoul, a man in his 20s, Mr. A, assaulted Ms. B, a woman in his group, for acting overly familiar, and Ms. B also assaulted Mr. A. Both were booked by the police on assault charges. On the same day at 3:34 a.m., at a bar in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, three men in their 30s broke bottles and shouted loudly, leading to a fight among the group and police intervention. At 4:30 a.m., at a pub near a university area in Seoul, a man in his late 20s, Mr. D, was involved in a dispute with staff after allegedly harassing a female restaurant employee.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, from the 4th to the 13th of this month, immediately after social distancing was eased (midnight business hours and gatherings of up to 10 people allowed), the number of 112 emergency calls reached about 109,900, a 9.8% increase compared to the previous 10 days (101,000 calls). The Songpa and Gwangjin police stations, which receive the highest number of 112 calls nationwide, also saw increases of 19% and 17%, respectively, during the same period. A Seoul police official stated, "It appears to be a combined effect of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and seasonal factors."

A 112 situation room chief at a frontline police station in Seoul said, "Since the easing of social distancing, 112 calls have generally increased," adding, "While violent crimes such as murder and robbery have not increased, there has been a rise in reports related to maintaining order and traffic, indicating an overall increase in security demand." Another police officer noted, "Due to strengthened social distancing throughout last year, alcohol-related incidents significantly decreased," and predicted, "There is a possibility that assaults and sex crimes may increase going forward."

During the period when social distancing was strengthened, alcohol-related crimes significantly decreased. According to the National Police Agency, the number of intoxicated individuals arrested for violence last year (provisional) was 71,738, showing a continuous decline from 98,602 in 2019 to 87,852 in 2020. Traffic accidents caused by drunk driving last year also decreased by about 200 cases to 14,894 compared to 17,247 in 2020.

With the lifting of the '299-person limit on assemblies,' the number of large and small gatherings is also expected to increase. In Seoul, 146 assemblies were reported on the 18th and 19th, after the easing of distancing measures, up from 143 on the 11th and 12th, with the number of participants increasing by about 2,600. There is also a possibility of simultaneous large-scale rallies occurring with the inauguration of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol.

Professor Kwak Daekyung of Dongguk University’s Police and Judicial College said, "Violent crimes occurring in face-to-face interactions decreased due to strengthened COVID-19 measures," and added, "As people’s activity levels increase, the crime rate may also rise." He further noted, "Various organizations tend to showcase their presence early in a new administration, so the number of assemblies could double."

Professor Kim Dowoo of Gyeongnam University’s Department of Police Science said, "During the COVID-19 situation, face-to-face crimes such as assault tended to decrease, but with the lifting of distancing restrictions, interpersonal conflicts are bound to increase," and added, "With the weather gradually warming and the local elections approaching, where crowds gather in various places, there is a possibility that the crime rate will escalate."

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