PH tagged as most dangerous country for South Koreans

The Korea Times recently reported that the Philippines emerged as the most dangerous country for South Korean tourists and expatriates in 2013.

The revelation has a significant impact, as South Korea is said to be the Philippines’ top tourist market. In fact, South Koreans accounted for 25 percent of the 4.7-million tourist arrivals to the Philippines in 2013.

However, there has been a decline in South Korean visitors  in the Philippines this year. From January to June 2014, South Korean tourist arrivals fell by 6.4% (547,971), due to safety and security concerns.

Horrifying number

Citing data from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opposition lawmaker Shin Hak-kyong  data showing that 780 crimes were committed against South Koreans in the Philippines in 2013.

Shin said crimes against Koreans in the Philippines included the following

—678 thefts
—13 murders
—12 robberies, , 2 rapes,
—12 physical assaults
—10 fraud cases.
—9 abductions

Comparison to China

Shin said this was the first time that the number of crimes against Koreans was higher in the Philippines than in China. There were 598 crimes committed against Koreans in China in 2013.

Data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed the number of crimes against Koreans in the Philippines has been rising in recent years.

Past statistics

In 2009, there were only 128 crimes against Koreans in the Philippines. Then in 2010, this dropped to 94, before spiking to 774 in 2011.

In 2012, 628 crimes were reported against Koreans in the Philippines.

In China, there were 1,024 crimes against Koreans in 2009. This fell to 944 in 2010 and 731 in 2011, before rising to 759 in 2012.

More crimes against Koreans in 2014

Shin also predicted crimes targeting Koreans in the Philippines will be higher this year, since the number of crimes have already hit 495 by the end of the first half.

The South Korean embassy in the Philippines had recently raised alarm over the rising number of crimes against its citizens in the country.

The Korean Embassy said there have been nine Koreans murdered from January to July 2014, as well as two incidents of kidnapping.