By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
A growing number of elderly people are committing crimes due to financial difficulties and a feeling of being isolated from society, a report has said. The arson of national treasure No.1 Sungnyemun in February, rape attempt of a teenager in July and other incidents are just a few examples.
Prof. Han Dong-hyeo of the International University of Korea said in the report about aging society that offenses by senior citizens have risen dramatically since 2000.
It is quite natural that elderly people's wrongdoings should be on the rise as the country moves into being an aging society.
According to data from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the number of crimes committed by those over 61 years old was 82,323 in 2006 or 4.3 percent of the total in 2006. It's a sharp gain from 52,551, or 2.2 percent of the total number of crimes in 1999.
Moreover, the number of homicides also jumped ― to 12,359 from 3,504 in the same period. More than a 350 percent hike, Han said.
As well as homicide, cases of physical assault, rape, arson, murder, theft, mugging and fraud all jumped. Physical assaults jumped more than 400 percent and rape nearly 300 percent. The growth rates are higher than any other age category, Han said.
The professor and crime expert said these people need extra care as their crimes are impulsive, which are preventable.
Chae Jong-ki, arsonist of Sungnyemun who was in his 70s, previously said he started the fire because nobody wanted to listen to his complaints regarding the compensation he received for his real estate.
Oh, an 80-something man was arrested last month after constantly trying to touch a 16-year-old neighbor's breast inside an elevator. He had reportedly been planning the abuse out of loneliness.
``Such crime is directly related to the financial status of a man. Job creation is in a way, the best solution because it could prevent them from being excluded from society and feeling lonely,'' he said.