Police Take Action Against 'Subway Crime'... Launch First Perceived Safety Survey

The police have launched their first survey on perceived safety in order to eradicate subway-related crimes. This marks the first time in 15 years that the focus has expanded underground since beginning such surveys above ground. As subway trains and stations have become not just means of transportation but integral parts of daily life, the police are shifting from primarily patrol-based preventive activities to more proactive measures.

Police officers from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Subway Police Unit are conducting crime prevention activities inside subway trains. National Police Agency

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According to coverage by The Asia Business Daily on April 29, the Subway Police Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been conducting a public safety perception survey among subway train and station users since February. While the National Police Agency has conducted annual perceived safety surveys for above-ground areas since 2011, this is the first time the survey is being conducted for underground spaces. Notably, this survey includes specific questions tailored to subway-related crimes such as sexual offenses, theft, and arson.

The Subway Police Unit recently assigned two investigators specialized in theft crimes, such as pickpocketing and shoulder-surfing, to each of the four main teams responsible for major subway stations. Investigators dedicated to crimes characterized by specific methods (methodical or standardized crimes) can now initiate investigations regardless of team boundaries. This is a strategy aimed at eradicating chronic subway crimes. The unit also plans to analyze data on methodical crimes monthly to increase the arrest rate.

In Seoul, there are a total of 411 subway stations, including transfer stations. On average, 8 million people use the subway daily, a figure comparable to Seoul’s population of 9.3 million. The Subway Police Unit is responsible for maintaining security on Lines 1 through 9, as well as the Ui-Sinseol Line and Sillim Line. Separate security centers are operated at 18 major stations where multiple lines intersect, with the city divided into four regions, each with its own investigation team assigned to key stations.

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According to the police, there were 3,546 reported crimes in the Seoul subway in 2023, 2,956 in 2024, and 2,667 last year. Although the overall trend is downward, the annual average still exceeds 3,000 cases. The unique spatial features of the subway-narrow, enclosed areas that are crowded or facilitate easy escape-mean that the nature of these crimes is particularly serious. Of these, sexual offenses accounted for 1,230 cases in 2023, 956 cases in 2024, and 1,015 cases last year, making up more than one-third of the total.

Concerns over public safety due to disorderly conduct and assaults are also significant. Interviews with 50 citizens who commute to Seoul by subway revealed that 48.0% (24 people) cited behaviors such as drunkenness and fighting. Jung Sumin (27), who commutes via Sindorim Station, said, "Whenever I get off work even a little late, I frequently witness drunken brawls," and added, "I have even gotten off at stations other than my destination for fear of being caught up in a fight or unruly behavior."

Another 38.0% (19 people) expressed concerns about sexual offenses such as hidden cameras and molestation. Kim Seojung (25), who commutes to and from Gasan Digital Complex Station, said, "Given that the subway is a means of transport used by a large, anonymous crowd, I often worry about illegal filming or sexual harassment. The anxiety is heightened by the perception that if you become a victim of crime while inside a moving train, it is difficult for law enforcement to intervene immediately."

Professor Kim Youngsik of Soonchunhyang University's Department of Police Administration commented, "Subways are closed environments with high passenger density, so the fear of crime is greater than above ground. The complex structure makes it easier for offenders to escape, hide, or destroy evidence. There is a need for research and policing activities tailored to the unique features of the subway environment."

Passengers are moving on the platform of Sindorim Station on Seoul Subway Line 1, Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang

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Existing research conducted by individual scholars shows that perceived safety in subways is generally lower than above ground. A 2023 study titled 'A Study on the Fear of Crime Caused by Subway Station Environments' found that subway users rated their perceived safety at 68.3 out of 100. This is more than 10 points lower than the national average of 78.7 for above-ground areas, as measured by the National Police Agency the same year.

The police plan to use data from the perceived safety survey to eliminate risk factors affecting subway security. This initiative reflects the changing role of the subway, which is increasingly becoming a multifunctional living space-including shops, cultural facilities, and unmanned convenience services-where citizens spend extended periods of time. A police official stated, "We plan to implement policing services for subway spaces in a more scientific and systematic way."

The police will continue the perceived safety survey through October and will also operate a special crackdown period on sexual offenses during the summer (May to September). A representative from the Subway Police Unit emphasized, "With the public's expectations for policing services rising, it's not only the objective indicators such as crime rates and arrest rates that matter, but also subjective evaluations. We will identify and address factors that influence public fear and sense of safety by investigating these vulnerabilities."

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