The escalation of drug crimes in South Korea is anticipated to pose growing societal concern in the upcoming year. (Image courtesy of Seoul Police)
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The escalation of drug crimes in South Korea is anticipated to pose growing societal concern in the upcoming year, primarily attributed to the proliferation of online drug distribution channels that gained traction during the coronavirus pandemic.
On December 27, the Institute of Public Security Policy at the National Police University published the “Public Security Outlook 2024″ report, forecasting a projected 13% surge in drug crimes compared to the current year, based on comprehensive big data analysis.
The report underscores a consistent upward trend in drug crimes over the past five years, with 2018 marking the onset of a steady increase.
Notably, there was a temporary dip of 12% in 2021. In 2022, the number of drug seizures reached 13,331, marking a significant 28% year-on-year escalation and surpassing the 10,000 mark for the first time. The first nine months of this year witnessed 12,134 drug-related cases, reflecting a substantial 48% rise from the corresponding period last year.
Among specific drug crime categories, the abuse of narcotics and psychotropic drugs stands out. Preliminary statistics for the initial nine months of the current year indicate an 80% surge in narcotics cases (from 1923 to 3473 cases), a 47% increase in psychotropic drugs cases (from 5112 to 7485 cases), and a marginal 3% uptick in cannabis-related incidents (from 1088 to 1112 cases) compared to the same period last year.
Researchers attribute this surge to the expanded online drug distribution channels, including social media, the dark web, and platforms like Telegram, which witnessed increased activity during the pandemic. The rise in drug-related incidents is particularly affecting young, tech-savvy individuals.
However, the complexities of tracking down sellers and users, compounded by overseas management servers and shortcomings in immigration, customs inspection, and quarantine systems in South Korea, pose formidable challenges to eradicating drug crimes.
To curtail the anticipated growth of drug-related offenses in the coming year, the report recommends the establishment of a specialized drug enforcement agency akin to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), rigorous law enforcement targeting digital platforms facilitating drug transactions, and collaborative efforts between immigration offices and law enforcement agencies.
The report also anticipates a surge in cybercrime, encompassing online transactions, gaming fraud, messenger phishing, and bodycam phishing in the coming year. Over the past decade, cybercrime has exhibited a consistent upward trajectory, with nearly 182,000 incidents recorded in the first nine months of the current year, representing a 4.3% increase from the corresponding period last year.
Additionally, the report highlights the expected proliferation of illegal pseudo-investment advisory firms (IFAs) targeting inexperienced investors with promises of high returns. As of July of this year, police records documented 9,360 victims of reading room investments, resulting in damages amounting to 240 billion won. Unreported cases suggest that the total damages could potentially reach up to 1 trillion won.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
