Busan most prone to suicides; Sejong to car accidents; Jeju to crimes

By Chyung Eun-ju

Busan’s Jung-gu is the most dangerous place in South Korea, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety’s (MOIS) safety index released Wednesday.

The area was prone to suicide, Sejong to traffic accidents and fire, South Jeolla Province to traffic accidents and Jeju to crime and public safety issues over the past three years.

The MOIS uses five safety rankings, based on seven categories ― traffic accidents, fire, crime, natural disaster, public safety, suicide and diseases ― to classify cities and provinces.

The safest areas are in the first rank and the least-safe the fifth.

Gyeonggi Province maintained its first rank for three years in traffic accidents, public safety, suicide and diseases. Seoul was also in the first rank for traffic accidents and Sejong was safest from crime and suicide.

Areas in the first rank for two or more categories were Gyeonggi Province (five categories), Sejong City (three) and Seoul (two).

Sejong and Busan were in the fifth rank for more than two categories.

Sejong seemed to be prone to traffic accidents and fire due to the relocation of government ministries and offices, according to an MOIS analysis.