Last Year, Domestic Foreign Residents Hit 'Record High'... Security Gap Warning Issued

Recently, an incident occurred at a restaurant in Seoul where Chinese nationals collectively assaulted a Korean couple, raising urgent calls for measures to address crimes committed by foreigners.

Foreign tourists are checking the train schedule in the Seoul Station waiting room. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

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According to the National Police Agency on the 3rd, as of September last year, the number of foreigners residing in South Korea reached a record high of 2,689,317. The number of long-term foreign residents also surpassed 2 million for the first time. Each year, more than 30,000 crimes involving foreigners occur. Looking at the status of suspects apprehended, murder crimes increased by 62.5% compared to the same period last year. Theft rose by 10.7%, and sexual violence increased by 4%.

The Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul arrested and sent Chinese national A to prosecution on charges of special assault the day before, and completed investigations on five others who fled the scene. They are suspected of collectively assaulting Korean national B and his girlfriend at a restaurant in Daerim-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 25th of last month. When the couple requested to "go outside to smoke," A and his group reportedly assaulted them by hitting with beer bottles and stomping with their feet, saying, "Why should Koreans be so special that they can't even smoke?"

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The Police University’s Institute of Security Policy forecasted in 'Security Outlook 2025' that crime rates may rise this year in specific areas densely populated by foreign students and workers, and that economic difficulties could lead migrant workers and foreign students to become involved in crimes such as drug trafficking. They also noted the possibility of sophisticated criminal networks forming in foreign-dense areas located in the metropolitan area and major provincial cities.

Professor Kim Do-woo of the Department of Police Administration at Gyeongnam National University said, "With the continuous increase in foreign residents and rising crime rates, related measures remain outdated and insufficient for modern society. In advanced countries, government-wide measures have become possible after experiencing terrorist incidents. South Korea urgently needs to prepare measures to ensure there are no security gaps caused by crimes committed by foreigners."

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