Crimes including sexual offenses and theft on the Seoul subway exceeded 2,600 cases last year, with incidents concentrated at major transfer stations and stations near busy commercial districts, raising public anxiety.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Subway Police Unit said Monday it conducted joint patrols with volunteer crime prevention teams at major stations including Gangnam, Hongik University (Hongdae), Seongsu, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, Anguk and City Hall stations.
The patrols were carried out to strengthen crime prevention activities amid heightened public anxiety following the recent murder of a high school girl in Gwangju. Police concentrated patrol personnel at congested stations with heavy foot traffic, areas crowded with tourists, and stations near schools.
According to the Subway Police Unit's crime statistics, a total of 2,667 cases of sexual offenses, theft and misappropriation of lost property occurred in its jurisdiction last year. By station, Hongik University Station recorded the most with 82 cases, followed by Gangnam Station with 74.
Hongik University Station and Gangnam Station are considered representative congested stations with high daily foot traffic. Both also see heavy late-night use and have been identified as areas where theft and sexual offenses occur repeatedly.
Crime cases have also continued in the areas around Seongsu, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park and Anguk stations, which are frequented by foreign tourists. In February, a suspect was arrested for molesting a foreign woman on a Line 2 train between Hongik University Station and Guro Digital Complex Station. In January, another suspect was apprehended for stealing a shopping bag that a foreigner had briefly set down at Gangdong Station on Line 5.
Police are also strengthening safety measures for students. The area around City Hall Station was included in a special patrol zone, as five elementary, middle and high schools are clustered nearby. Namdaemun Police Station and volunteer crime prevention teams have recently been operating customized security activities for students to ensure safety on their commutes to and from school.
"We plan to expand patrol activities focused on crime-vulnerable areas and strengthen the cooperation system with volunteer crime prevention teams," a Subway Police Unit official said. "We will focus on creating an environment where citizens can use the subway with peace of mind."
