Foreign suspects in violent crimes up 12% in 5 years

The number of foreign nationals suspected of violent crimes in Korea rose from 689 in 2021 to 771 last year. Police said the increase may reflect the growing foreign resident population rather than a higher offending rate. Chinese nationals accounted for the largest number of violent crime suspects last year, while police investigated a brawl involving foreign nationals in Pyeongtaek on Oct. 3.

A total of 645 foreign nationals were apprehended for violent crimes between January and September this year, according to the Korean National Police Agency.

Chinese nationals accounted for 250 violent crime suspects last year, followed by Uzbek nationals at 62, U.S. nationals at 60 and Vietnamese nationals at 53.

The number of foreign criminal suspects overall rose from 32,470 in 2021 to 34,760 last year.

The foreign national population in Korea increased from 1,956,781 in 2021 to 2,783,247 last year, a 42.2 percent rise, according to Ministry of Justice immigration statistics.

Police believe around 15 people were involved in the Oct. 3 Pyeongtaek brawl and were tracking seven individuals whose identities had been confirmed.

Published Oct 12, 2026 12:18 pm KST

Foriegn nationals brawl late night at a park in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 3. Yonhap

The number of foreign nationals suspected of committing violent crimes in Korea has risen by nearly 12 percent over the past five years, increasing from 689 in 2021 to 771 last year.

A total of 645 foreign suspects had been apprehended for violent crimes between January and September this year, according to the Korean National Police Agency.

By nationality, Chinese nationals accounted for the largest number of violent crime suspects last year, at 250, followed by Uzbekistan nationals at 62, U.S. nationals at 60 and Vietnamese at 53.

The number of foreign nationals suspected of crimes overall increased as well. The figure rose more than 7 percent, from 32,470 in 2021 to 34,760 last year. By nationality, Mongolian suspects recorded the largest increase, rising around 38 percent from 1,007 to 1,397. Meanwhile, the number of Thai suspects fell over 20 percent, from 2,482 to 1,979.

Police mainly attribute the rise to the growing number of foreign nationals living in Korea, not necessarily to a higher rate of offending. The number of foreign nationals residing in Korea increased 42.2 percent, from 1,956,781 in 2021 to 2,783,247 last year, according to immigration statistics from the Ministry of Justice.

Such data comes in the wake of a recent brawl in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

On Oct. 3, police responded to a late-night report about a clash involving a dozen foreign nationals armed with wooden planks and bats. Authorities issued a Code Zero, the highest dispatch level, and apprehended two men in their 20s at the scene, identified as Russian and Kyrgyz nationals. The two suffered injuries including fractures.

Police believe around 15 people were involved in the brawl, and were tracking down seven individuals whose identities have been confirmed, along with vehicles linked to the incident.

去年，韩国涉嫌暴力犯罪的外国公民人数从2021年的689人上升至771人。警方表示，人数增加可能反映的是外国居民人口的增长，而非犯罪率的上升。去年，中国公民是涉嫌暴力犯罪人数最多的群体。此外，警方还调查了10月3日发生在平泽市的一起涉及外国公民的斗殴事件。

据韩国国家警察厅统计，今年1月至9月，共有645名外国公民因暴力犯罪被捕。

去年，中国公民占暴力犯罪嫌疑人的 250 人，其次是乌兹别克斯坦公民 62 人，美国公民 60 人，越南公民 53 人。

2021年外国犯罪嫌疑人总数为32470人，去年为34760人。

根据韩国司法部移民统计数据，韩国的外国人口从 2021 年的 1,956,781 人增加到去年的 2,783,247 人，增幅达 42.2%。

警方认为约有 15 人参与了 10 月 3 日平泽发生的斗殴事件，目前正在追踪身份已确认的 7 人。

发布于2026年10月12日下午12:18（韩国标准时间）

10月3日深夜，外国公民在京畿道平泽市一公园发生斗殴事件。（韩联社）

过去五年，涉嫌在韩国犯下暴力罪行的外国公民人数增加了近 12%，从 2021 年的 689 人增加到去年的 771 人。

据韩国国家警察厅统计，今年1月至9月，共有645名外国嫌疑人因暴力犯罪被捕。

按国籍划分，去年暴力犯罪嫌疑人中，中国公民人数最多，为 250 人，其次是乌兹别克斯坦公民 62 人，美国公民 60 人，越南公民 53 人。

涉嫌犯罪的外国公民总数也有所增加。这一数字上升超过7%，从2021年的32,470人增至去年的34,760人。按国籍划分，蒙古籍嫌疑人增幅最大，从1,007人增至1,397人，增幅约为38%。与此同时，泰国籍嫌疑人人数下降超过20%，从2,482人降至1,979人。

警方主要将犯罪率上升归因于在韩外国公民人数的增长，而非犯罪率本身上升。根据韩国法务部的移民统计数据，在韩外国公民人数增长了42.2%，从2021年的1,956,781人增至去年的2,783,247人。

这些数据是在京畿道平泽市最近发生斗殴事件之后发布的。

10月3日深夜，警方接到报案称，十几名外籍人士持木板和棍棒发生冲突。当局立即启动最高级别的紧急响应（零级警报），并在现场逮捕了两名二十多岁的男子，经确认分别为俄罗斯和吉尔吉斯斯坦国籍。两人均受伤，包括骨折。

警方认为约有 15 人参与了这场斗殴，目前正在追捕七名身份已确认的人员以及与该事件有关的车辆。