By Kim Hyun-bin
The number of crimes in Seoul has been declining, however, anxiety about the issue among residents is increasing, particularly among women and older adults, according to a report released by the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family, Sunday.
The foundation published the report based on data provided by Statistics Korea, which interviewed 3,007 Seoulites aged 20 and older in 2022.
According to the report, the number of crimes in the city declined from 296,178 in 2020 to 279,507 in 2022. The five major violent crimes — murder, robbery, theft, assault and sexual violence — also decreased from 92,679 to 90,339 during that period.
Despite this decline, residents' sense of safety has not improved. On a scale from 1 (very safe) to 5 (very unsafe), the average score increased slightly from 3.13 in 2020 to 3.17 in 2022, indicating a growing perception of insecurity.
The report highlighted that women feel more anxious than men about potential crimes in their daily lives. On a scale from 1 (feeling very safe) to 10 (feeling very anxious), women scored 6.38 compared to men's 5.4.
Among different age groups, those in their 60s and older, including both men and women, reported the highest anxiety level at 6.18, followed by those in their 40s and 50s at 5.81 and those in their 20s at 5.79.
By living arrangement, those living alone were less anxious about crime than those living with family or others, with their anxiety levels at 5.86 and 5.92, respectively. However, when recategorizing it by gender, the anxiety level among women living alone was very high at 6.57. When the factor of age was added, women in their 60s and older, who live alone, had the highest anxiety level at 6.96.
The report suggested that increased anxiety among older adults may be due to reduced socioeconomic status after retirement, making them feel more vulnerable to becoming a victim of crime.
"When drawing up policies to reduce the fear of crime, it is essential to consider not only young women but also women aged 60 and older," an official from the foundation said.