Pangs of fear and conscience

To act or not to act?
When fear stops people helping others.

By Kim Bo-eun, Jung Min-ho, Bahk Eun-ji

Twenty-six-year-old office worker Park Jeong-min says she often faces inner conflict when she encounters unpleasant situations with strangers these days.

"Once I was walking down a narrow ally to my house at night when a cigarette butt dropped from above several steps in front of me," said Park. "It came from the window of a studio apartment, and I could see the man who threw it standing by the window.

"Although I couldn't see the man's face clearly because of the bright light coming from the window, I was sure he could see mine, so I looked up at him with the most annoyed expression imaginable," she continued.

"And then I walked away but I suddenly got really scared because I thought the man might run downstairs and come after me," she said. "It may seem like I am paranoid but with the rising number of rage crimes occurring, I couldn't help feeling worried."

Park said in the past she would squarely tell a person to their face when she was offended by their behavior. But these days, as more and more crimes occur out of instant rage or for no particular reason, she tends to hold back from expressing her disgust.

"I can't help putting my safety first and I believe many others feel the same way but at the same time it is annoying that now nobody speaks out while offenders are clearly causing discomfort for many people," she said.

Less respect for elders

Many adults have become reluctant to give strong warnings to teenagers misbehaving in public places.

Disciplining young people has been considered one of adults' obligations in Korean society for as long as it has existed, so many grown-ups used to give a good scolding to youths when necessary, such as if they were found smoking or drinking in public places.

"When I was a middle school student, there was nothing strange at all when elder people guided misbehaving teenagers, even if they were not their children. I respected elders in my neighborhood just as much as my parents, and so did my friends," recalled 30-year-old office worker Lim Sung-hyun.

"Naturally, I internalized the same values and I have come to assume the role my elders played when I was young. But recently situations have started to change and now whenever I see a group of misbehaving teenagers, I just pass by them."

Lim said one time he was about to say something to three boys smoking on the street but changed his mind, recalling a news story he had seen on television.

It was about a man in his 30s who died after being beaten by a bunch of teenagers after scolding them for spitting and swearing in front of a store. The even more tragic part of the story was that the man's 5-year-old son witnessed the teenagers beating his father. The incident in South Chungcheong Province in July shocked the nation.

"I feel like a coward but I wonder how many people will be willing to risk their lives to become a hero. It is sad people do not respect nor trust each other anymore," Lim said.

Whose business is it?

According to a recent survey by research institute Realmeter, the majority of grown-ups said they would not be willing to tell teenagers to stop smoking in the street.

More than 56 percent of the 1,000 respondents said they would not try and stop them from smoking on the street in fear of being assaulted, while about 29 percent said they would say something despite the risk of being attacked.

Despite all the dangers involved in intervention, some people believe there are cases where adults need to chide teenagers for misbehaving in public.

Kim Moo-cheol, an office worker in his 30s, saw a teenager smoking in a subway car at around 10 p.m. on his way home about three weeks ago.

"This boy, who looked like a high school student, lit a cigarette and started smoking while sitting in the subway while I was standing in front of him. It was not crowded but there were many passengers," Kim said. "I couldn't stand it. I asked him what he was doing. At that he stubbed the cigarette out."

Kim said he is not the type of person who always chastises bad behavior by younger people.

"I usually don't get involved with teenagers who create a scene. I'm afraid of what they would do to me," he said. "But I sometimes chide misbehaving teenagers, depending on the situation."

In this society, where Confucian values are still highly respected, people are educated to scold misbehaving children. But it has become increasingly difficult to do so with society becoming more individualistic and dangerous.

Big dilemma

Professor Kim Hyun-jung of the Police Science Department of the Korean National Police University, called it "a dilemma" facing all of society.

"We as adults should act against wrongdoings committed by teenagers. For instance, to help prevent increasing violence involving students in and around school, some intervention by adults is necessary," Kim said.

She went on to say that the pervasive individualism in society underlies the growing nonchalance or non-intervention stance toward wrong deeds by teenagers.

"Theoretically we should scold and stop teenagers who are misbehaving. But in reality most ordinary people cannot do what they think is right in the fear of being assaulted or humiliated," Kim said. "As you know there are cases where innocent people were attacked when they try to stop misdeeds by a gang of juveniles. It's true that it has become more risky and dangerous. It's a big dilemma."

She said people should at least actively report violence or illegalities committed by youths to the police when they witness them. "Despite all the risks, it's the responsibility of citizens to make efforts to right wrongs," she said.

Kim added that laws also need to be more generous toward adults who become involved in legal disputes with teenagers when they try to stop them misbehaving.