In 2023, the crime rate in South Korea stood at about ***** crimes per 100,000 population. Eight provinces showed crime rates above the national rate, led by Jeju, which recorded about ***** crimes per 100,000 population.

Historical chart and dataset showing South Korea crime rate per 100K population by year from 1990 to 2021.

In 2023, the number of arrests for violence in Seoul, South Korea, was about 37,500. Seoul noted a decrease in overall crimes of these types from about 90,000 in the previous year to around 86,000 in 2023.

In 2022, crime rate in South Korea was ***** crimes per one hundred thousand people, showing a slight increase compared to the previous year. According to the source, the crime rate in South Korea had increased rapidly after 2000, partly due to the fact that several crimes under the special law were included in crimes under the criminal code. In recent years, figures have remained relatively stable.

In 2022, there were about *** homicide offenses per 100,000 people in South Korea. The homicide rate (including attempts) in South Korea has been falling steadily in recent years. 2022 marked the first increase in the homicide rate since 2015.

South Korea: Homicides per 100,000 people: The latest value from 2017 is 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people, a decline from 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people in 2016. In comparison, the world average is 7.4 homicides per 100,000 people, based on data from 97 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1990 to 2017 is 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people. The minimum value, 0.5 homicides per 100,000 people, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people was recorded in 2009.

In 2023, there were approximately ******* male and ******* female crime victims in South Korea. The number of male victims exceeded that of female victims throughout the surveyed period.

Korea Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data was reported at 0.763 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.756 Ratio for 2015. Korea Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data is updated yearly, averaging 0.761 Ratio from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.902 Ratio in 2011 and a record low of 0.719 Ratio in 2013. Korea Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, female are estimates of unlawful female homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; ;

In 2023, approximately *** thousand crimes were committed by people aged between 51 and 60 years in South Korea. The middle-aged population in South Korea recorded the highest number of crimes that year.

In 2023, the majority of male crime victims in South Korea were aged between 21 and 30, totaling around ******* victims. Similarly, the largest group of female victims was also in this age range, with approximately ****** victims.

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

In 2023, South Korea recorded 801 murder cases, with a crime rate of 1.6 per 100,000 people. While this marks a decrease over the past decade, it shows an increase compared to the previous year.

In 2022, approximately 197.1 thousand victims in South Korea were deceived when they fell victim to crime. A significant portion of victims were unsure of their immediate situation when they were subjected to illegal activities.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around 86 percent of female respondents stated that they were afraid of having their personal information leaked. According to the source, female respondents recorded higher answer scores than their male counterparts for all surveyed situations.

Korea Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data was reported at 0.639 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.687 Ratio for 2015. Korea Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data is updated yearly, averaging 0.687 Ratio from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.814 Ratio in 2011 and a record low of 0.639 Ratio in 2016. Korea Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, male are estimates of unlawful male homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; ;

Korea Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data was reported at 0.700 Ratio in 2014. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.700 Ratio for 2013. Korea Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 0.750 Ratio from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2014, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.900 Ratio in 2011 and a record low of 0.700 Ratio in 2014. Korea Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides are estimates of unlawful homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; Weighted average;

In 2023, there were approximately 416 thousand criminal suspects in South Korea that received up to high school education. A significant section of the recorded suspects had an unclear educational history.

The South Korean access control market, valued at approximately $400 million in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, driven by increasing security concerns across various sectors and the rising adoption of advanced technologies. The 7.52% CAGR indicates a significant expansion over the forecast period (2025-2033). Key growth drivers include the escalating demand for enhanced security in commercial spaces (offices, retail, etc.), government infrastructure projects emphasizing stricter access control measures, and the burgeoning residential sector's adoption of smart home technologies. Furthermore, the increasing integration of biometric systems, alongside the preference for contactless card readers in light of recent health concerns, significantly fuels market expansion. While data scarcity prevents precise segmentation analysis for South Korea, global trends suggest that card readers and access control devices (particularly contactless) will dominate the market share, followed by biometric readers and electronic locks. The government sector is likely a major end-user vertical, followed by commercial and industrial sectors, given their heightened security needs. Challenges include high initial investment costs for advanced systems and the potential for cyber vulnerabilities within interconnected networks. The competitive landscape in South Korea is likely shaped by both international and domestic players. Global giants like Thales, Bosch, Honeywell, and ASSA ABLOY are expected to hold significant market share due to their established brand reputation and technological expertise. However, smaller, locally focused companies are also anticipated to cater to specific market niches. Future growth hinges on technological innovations, such as AI-powered surveillance integration and improved cybersecurity protocols. The market is poised for further expansion with the government's focus on national infrastructure development and the increasing private investment in smart city initiatives. The consistent adoption of sophisticated access control technologies in diverse applications across South Korea promises sustained growth trajectory throughout the forecast period. Recent developments include: December 2023: Thales Group partnered with the Korean mobile operator SK Telecom to install Post Quantum Cryptography on 5G networks to upgrade and modernize the security of subscribers’ identity and privacy. The innovation lies in improving the cryptography used to anonymize the user's digital identity on the 5G network., November 2023: Nidec Instruments Corporation launched a card reader that meets the latest Version 6 of the Payment Card Industry PIN Transaction Security Point of Interaction (PCI PTS POI) mandated by the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC).. Key drivers for this market are: The Increasing Adoption of Access Control Systems owing to Rising Crime Rates and Threats, Technological Advancements. Potential restraints include: The Increasing Adoption of Access Control Systems owing to Rising Crime Rates and Threats, Technological Advancements. Notable trends are: Biometric Readers is Expected to Witness Remarkable Growth.

In 2023, the number of arrests for murder or manslaughter amounted to about 279 cases in South Korea. In the past ten years, the figure of related arrests has decreased from almost 400 such cases to below 300.

In 2024, the South Korean government spent over 7.9 billion South Korean won on compensation for crime victims. Although this was a decrease from the previous year, this figure is expected to grow due to rising wages and the continuous adjusting of regulations to allow more affected families to register for funds. Physical and material damage Innocent individuals targeted by crime often suffer damage on multiple levels: physical, mental, and financial. Many crime cases involve property damage that amounts to less than one million South Korean won. However, it is important to note that there were also numerous cases where the amount of property damage could not be determined.
Crime victims In South Korea, many victims of crime were strangers to their attackers. This indicates that ordinary individuals can unexpectedly fall victim to crime. Additionally, a significant portion of recorded cases involved victims who were misled or deceived.