South Korea has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and was deemed by the UN to be one of the most peaceful nations to live in the world. Obviously, having a South Korean as the chairman of the UN may have something to do with this. But undue influence doesn't affect a nations peacefulness, does it? Regardless, this is swaying from the point in hand. Korea is an incredibly safe place to live.
Lets look at some statistics. A nations crime rate would be a good start to asses at how safe a country is BUT, which crime? Good data to survey when analysing a nations public order is Assault. This is because assault is not generally something that is related to wealth. For example, a country may have a sky high theft rate can still be at relative peace. Theft can be a result of social inequality (defiantly linked to a nations safeness but, not directly. If something is stolen, you're not in direct danger. If force was used to take an object, it would be the separate offence of robbery). Theft can also be a result of insurance fraud (also a crime, but non violent and not deemed to affect how safe a society is). Assault is also a crime that is more likely to be reported, as victims will want revenge on the assailant and there isn't as much embarrassment in being a victim of theft compared to other offences, such as sexual assault offences.
So, lets check out some data....
2004 Assault Rates (police recorded assaults / population) put into statistics to show crime rate for every 100,000 citizens:
South Africa: 1188
United States: 786.7
Luxemburg: 296
Spain 414
Netherlands: 351
Portugal: 377
Iceland: 394
South Korea: 34
Data from the E U R O P E A N I N S T I T U T E F O R CRIME PREVENT ION AND CONTROL, AFFILIATED WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. 2004 report on 'International Statistics on Crime and Criminal Justice' Click here for link
What Makes Korea So Safe?
Various sociologists and economists seem to be in agreement that it is because of:
The Family focused culture
A large middle class population
The stable economy
Sociological conformism - three arguments in one here:
An asumption that, if you live in an environment where people don't commit crime, then you won't. Lowering crime rates more
The education (family and public) system is focused on core moral principals and the students conform
The general culture is one of peace, inherited from the religions and historic events that have shaped the nation
Drug taking being lower than most other nations
....... you get the picture. I, on the other hand have another opinion.... Taekwondo!
Taekwondo is Korea's national sport. Every male must at some point in his life, before he is 25, obtain a black belt in the martial art. Although, the majority of the population that hold an X and Y chromosome will reach their black belt before they're 18.
This kick-ass sport is not just popular among the testosterone fueled section of society. Girls too learn how to combat in the way of their ancestors.
The sport teaches self discipline, respect for others around you and provides you with the knowledge of how to kick a guy in the face if he's getting too lairy. The ability to defend oneself does wonders for self confidence.
So as a soccer playing British bloke teaching English in Korea, my students thought it would be best for me to learn more about their national sport and take lessons. Fearing our black belt owning students, a coworker (Sean-o) and I decided to learn the ways of Tae (leg) Kwon (fist) do (to do).
We had some minor casualties, but more fun...
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