The number of sex crimes committed by foreigners is growing, according to an opposition lawmaker.

On the basis of data he received from the Ministry of Justice, Rep. Woo Yoon-keun of the main opposition Democratic Party said a total of 1,289 sex crimes were committed by foreigners from January 2001 to August 2009.

By year, 83 cases were reported in 2001, 103 in 2003, 124 in 2005 and 242 last year. This year, 170 cases have been reported as of the end of August.

More than 510 cases, or about 40 percent, of the total cases resulted in indictments. Woo pointed out that the rate is lower than the country's overall sex crime prosecution rate of 45 percent last year. "It is a serious problem that the number of foreign sexual offenders are surging as well as foreign criminals overall," Woo said.

"The government should come up with preventive measures to the increasing sex crimes committed by expatriates."

Prosecutors are launching a special task force staffed by immigration officials and police detectives, which will specialize in foreign crimes. However, some civic groups are voicing their concerns that the task force may violate foreigners' human rights.

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr