12 million bicycle users, active cycling clubs

Rising demand for road bikes and other models priced in the millions or tens of millions of won

Bicycle theft crimes outnumber other types of theft offenses

Kim, a 36-year-old office worker, joined a mountain biking club last year and purchased a bicycle for 6 million won. However, not long after, it was stolen near the entrance to Bonghwasan in Jungnang-gu, Seoul. He had locked it to a metal post, but it was of no use.

The number of bicycle users has reached 12 million, and cycling clubs are thriving. However, thieves targeting bicycles?which can cost as much as a used car?are also becoming more active. According to industry sources on May 20, domestic bicycle prices continue to rise. Among cycling club members, there is growing demand for road bikes, mountain bikes, and electric bicycles priced in the millions or tens of millions of won. Shin Jeonghui (38) said, "Members actively compare the performance of different models, and the more expensive the bike, the higher your status in the club, so some people push themselves to buy pricier bikes."

According to the National Police Agency, there were 11,555 cases of bicycle theft in 2023, surpassing other types of theft such as shoplifting (4,126 cases), burglary (2,947 cases), and pickpocketing (247 cases). A police official stated, "Areas with active cycling club gatherings or walking paths with few CCTV cameras are frequent targets for professional bicycle thieves."

The arrest rate for bicycle theft is low. In 2023, the overall theft crime arrest rate was 66.9%, but bicycle theft was only 37.7%. This is because it frequently occurs in CCTV blind spots, and the registration rate of unique bicycle identification numbers is also low, making tracking difficult. Mr. Han (35), who has experienced bicycle theft, said, "I reported the theft to the police, but I did not receive any contact for several months," adding, "I gave up because it seemed the thief had already resold the bicycle."

Some victims attempt to catch the thieves themselves. In these cases, they usually monitor secondhand trading sites, but recently, thieves have started dismantling bicycles into wheelsets, frames, seats, and derailleurs to resell the parts, making recovery difficult.

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For this reason, experts point out that thorough preventive measures and expanding CCTV infrastructure in public spaces are necessary to reduce damage. Kwak Daekyung, a professor in the Department of Police Administration at Dongguk University, said, "The more expensive the bicycle, the more owners should make locking a habit and actively install security devices such as theft alarms."