By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Many women are rushing to buy self-defense weapons following the arrest of rapist and serial killer Kang Ho-soon.

Online vendors of such items reported a large jump in sales, while more women are taking self-defense classes.

According to online market Auction (www.auction.co.kr), more than 370 weapons have been sold daily since Jan. 25, when Kang was arrested. The figure is about 60 percent higher than a week earlier and 45 percent higher than a year ago. More than 65 percent of the buyers were women.

Gmarket (www.gmarket.co.kr) and GSeshop (www.gseshop.co.kr) also saw sales of self-defense items rise, the latter marking a 100 percent jump.

The most favored items were alarms making sounds over 100 decibels, meant to be used in emergency situations and loud enough to alert people blocks away, the shop said. Pepper spray that travels more than four meters is also a hit item. Both are favored because of their compact size, fitting into purses and pockets.

Surveillance cameras ― and fake ones ― for discouraging criminals, as well as door locks and other security gadgets, are also seeing a sales boom.

Internet users are interested in ``how to protect their security.'' Bloggers and experts are producing articles on simple martial arts techniques to fend off rapists and other criminal attacks. Many women are asking how to defeat sex criminals with their bare hands, while experts are posting pictures and explanations on easy self-defense techniques.

``I advise all women to learn more than two techniques to thwart criminals' efforts,'' blogger sesiring said.

This is not the first time self-defense items have seen a sales boom. In 2006, when Balbari, another infamous rapist and serial killer, was caught after having killed several women in his neighborhood, such sales saw a 60 percent hike.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr