Foreign violent crime up 12% over past 5 years

Growth in foreign residents seen as key driver

Brawl in Pyeongtaek on Oct. 3 prompts police response

Gyeonggi Nambu police identify, pursue suspects

The scene of a mass brawl involving foreign nationals in Poseung-eup, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, at around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday. [Yonhap]
The scene of a mass brawl involving foreign nationals in Poseung-eup, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, at around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday. [Yonhap]

A mass brawl involving foreign nationals in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, has heightened public anxiety over crimes committed by foreigners in South Korea. Data show that crimes by foreign nationals have been rising over the past five years, with violent offenses increasing at an even faster pace. Police attribute the trend to the growing number of foreign residents in the country rather than any expansion of international criminal organizations operating domestically.

According to the Korean National Police Agency, the number of foreign suspects arrested for violent crimes — including murder and robbery — rose from 689 to 771 between 2021 and 2025, an increase of about 11.9 percent. Through September this year, the figure stood at 645.

By nationality, foreign suspects arrested for violent crimes last year were led by China (250), followed by Uzbekistan (62), the United States (60), Vietnam (53), Mongolia (37), Russia (32) and Thailand (18).

Particularly notable is the rise in violent crime among nationals from Central Asian countries and Mongolia. Over the past five years, the number of Uzbek nationals arrested for violent offenses rose 77 percent, from 35 in 2021 to 62 in 2025.

Mongolia saw a 19.4 percent increase, from 31 to 37; Russia rose 14.3 percent, from 28 to 32; and China climbed 7.3 percent, from 233 to 250.

A graph showing changes in the number of foreign violent crime suspects from 2021 to 2025. [Generated with AI]
A graph showing changes in the number of foreign violent crime suspects from 2021 to 2025. [Generated with AI]

The overall number of foreign suspects across all crime categories also grew during the same period, rising 7.1 percent from 32,470 to 34,760. As of September this year, the figure stood at 28,571.

By nationality, Mongolia recorded the sharpest increase, with suspects rising from 1,007 to 1,397, up 38.7 percent, followed by Russia at 1,154 to 1,431 (up 24 percent), Vietnam at 3,150 to 3,839 (up 21.9 percent) and Uzbekistan at 1,767 to 2,147 (up 21.5 percent). Thailand, by contrast, fell about 20.3 percent, from 2,482 to 1,979.

A police official with expertise in international crime said the overall rise in the foreign resident population is the primary driver. "We believe the absolute number of crimes has increased as the foreign population in the country has grown overall," the official said. "We do not believe there has been an increase in the domestic activities of international criminal organizations."

The foreign resident population did grow substantially over the same period. According to immigration statistics from the Ministry of Justice, the number of foreign nationals residing in South Korea rose about 42.2 percent, from approximately 1.96 million in 2021 to about 2.78 million in 2025.

Police say the rise in crime tracks closely with the growth in the foreign population, and that crimes between foreign nationals — rather than those targeting Korean citizens — make up the majority of cases.

Meanwhile, the brawl in Poseung-eup continues to unsettle the local community. Police are pursuing suspects while stepping up security in the surrounding area.

At around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday, more than 10 foreign nationals fought each other with wooden clubs and bats in a park in Poseung-eup, prompting a police response. The situation was urgent enough that police issued a Code 0 alert — the highest emergency mobilization level.

Officers at the scene arrested two men in their 20s: a Russian national identified as Mr. A and a Kyrgyz national identified as Mr. B. Wooden clubs and other blunt objects were also found inside a vehicle the group had abandoned nearby. Both men sustained fractures and other injuries and received medical treatment.

Police have confirmed that about 15 people took part in the brawl and have identified seven of them along with their vehicle, whom they are now tracking. To restore public safety in the area, police deployed civil-affairs security units and wide-area mobile units beginning Monday, conducting intensive day-and-night patrols and checkpoints.


20ki@heraldcorp.com