Police report over 20,000 criminal cases involving foreigners in 2008

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean police reported over 20,000 criminal
cases involving foreign nationals last year, and witnessed increases in
drug-related crimes and frauds by foreigners, a report showed Wednesday.

According to data released by the National Police Agency (NPA), 20,623 foreigners
were detained on criminal charges -- including murder and robbery, along with
more minor crimes -- in 2008, marking a steep rise from 14,524 in 2007 and 12,657
in 2006.
The corresponding figures for 2003 and 2004 stood at 6,144 and 9,103, respectively.
The number of foreign nationals accused of being involved in drug-related crimes
tripled to 694 last year from 231 in 2007. In 2006, the number of foreigners
detained on drug charges totaled just 73.
NPA data also found that 85 foreigners were prosecuted for murder in 2008, up
from 54 in 2007 and 32 in 2003.
The number of convicted rapists who were foreign nationals totaled 114 last year,
the same as 2007. The corresponding figures for 2006 and 2003 were 68 and 49,
respectively.
The rising number in criminal reports involving foreigners -- which include cases
in which charges were not filed or were thrown out -- was attributed to an
increase in the resident foreign population and visitors to Korea in recent
years, NPA officials said.
They also noted that eased customs controls intended to promote the nation's
tourism and trade sectors have left loopholes.
According to the country's immigration bureau, some 1.15 million foreigners were
living in South Korea as of December last year.
"Under the nation's current immigration system, it is possible for deported
foreign criminals to come back to South Korea with their name changed," said Park
Wan-seok of the Alliance for Coping with Foreign Laborers, a civic group.
"The crime rate among foreigners here is far higher than that of the Korean
people. The government should step up efforts to improve regulations."
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)