Last year an increase in violent crimes, such as murder, robbery and rape led to the highest number of crimes reported in Seoul in eight years.

According to the metropolitan government, 405,432 crimes took place in the capital in 2009, the most since 2001 when 410,054 were reported.

Of them, violent crimes totaled 4,495, up 19 percent from the 3,778 reported a year ago.

Crimes by foreigners residing in Seoul soared by 23.2 percent to 7,739 in the cited period.

Light offenses, including traffic law violations, accounted for 48.1 percent or 195,364 of the total, the local administration said.

Crimes such as adultery and prostitution more than doubled to 6,203 during the same period.