In 2023, the rate of sexual assaults in South Korea was 75.4 crimes per 100 thousand people. It was an increase compared to the previous year.

In 2023, South Korea recorded 38,698 cases of sexual violence, showing a decrease from 41,433 cases reported the previous year.

In 2023, the number of sexual assault arrests in South Korea amounted to around 21,531 cases, showing an increase from the previous two years. The figures have been fluctuating in the past few years. Increase in sex crimes in South Korea Sexual assault refers to a range of physical and psychological violations that occur without the explicit consent of the victim, which includes serious offenses such as rape and attempted rape, as well as various forms of indecent acts carried out through coercion. In recent years, South Korea has witnessed a spike in these crimes, despite the country scoring relatively high on the order and security index within the Asia-Pacific region. This increase is particularly alarming with regard to molka, a term referring to illegal secret filming, commonly involving hidden cameras used to capture non-consensual images and videos of individuals in private settings. Government policies and law enforcement The issue of sexual violence resonates deeply within South Korean society, with a significant number of women identifying it as one of the most critical social challenges. Despite this acknowledgment, the legal framework surrounding sexual offenses remains comparatively lenient by international standards. Many sex offenders receive punishments that do not adequately reflect the severity of their crimes. A recent survey found that nearly 70 percent of South Koreans expressed dissatisfaction with the government's crime prevention policies.

In 2023, over 32,400 women were victims of sexual assault in South Korea, while the number of men who experienced the same was 6,778. Over the past few decades, the number of female victims of sexual offenses has increased more than fivefold.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around 64 percent of respondents stated that crime was a serious issue in the country. According to the source, about 54 percent of respondents felt that crime in South Korea had increased compared to the previous year.

In 2023, the number of arrests in South Korea amounted to about 1.19 million cases, an increase from around 1.13 million cases in the previous year. Overall, the number of arrests in recent years fluctuated during the survey period, with a peak recorded in the year 2016. Increasing sexual harassment South Korea has experienced an increase in sexual assault in recent years. In particular, videos and recordings that were filmed without the consent of both parties were the cause of much distress and social outrage. The South Korean government continued to enact new digital crime laws to deter and punish such deviant acts. While sexually harassing unsuspecting individuals, spycams were the main tool used, and more perpetrators were identified over the years, resulting from the use of the cameras. A crackdown on drugs Another type of crime that was on the rise was crime related to drugs. South Korean society leans more towards the conservative, but even as drug related arrests increase, the opinion on drugs seems to be loosening, especially among the younger generation. The have been more reports of young Korean celebrities, especially those in the music industry, being charged for the possession or use of marijuana in recent years. Also, there were increased reports of attempted drug trafficking.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around 44 percent of respondents stated that having an abortion because the pregnancy came about due to rape or incest is acceptable even after the 23rd week of pregnancy. Overall, 86 percent supported abortion at some point during the pregnancy in the case of rape or incest.