S. Korea sees spike in organized crime amid economic hardship

SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) -- The number of new gangs and gang-structured criminal
rings in South Korea increased 60 percent in the first three months of this year
compared with the same period in 2008, investigators said Monday, a phenomenon
they attributed to the economic slump.
Among 621 gang members arrested between January and March this year, 222, or 35
percent, were found to be affiliated with 11 new gangs or similar organizations,
according to the National Police Agency.
The figure is a 60 percent jump from the same period in 2008, when the police
arrested 135 members of newly established gangs or groups that operated like
gangs, according to the agency.
Nearly half of the arrested gangsters had nine prior convictions, according to
agency figures, an indication that organized crime rings are hard to walk away
from. Another third were five-time to eight-time repeat offenders.
Assault was the most common crime (35.7 percent), followed by extortion (29.8
percent), illegal gambling (11 percent) and loan sharking (7.7 percent).
"Organized gangs are still committing violence and extortion, but they are also
getting into money-related businesses such as loan sharking or gambling," an
official said. "A carefully planned crackdown on the rings and their criminal
activities is necessary."
brk@yna.co.kr
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