Tag: Jeju

I wonder if this would be like the joint patrols the US military and the ROK police conduct near US military bases?:

South Korea and China will discuss the possibility of stationing Chinese police officials on its southern island of Jeju if the relevant authorities here consider it necessary, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Thursday.

The idea was raised by a South Korean opposition lawmaker earlier this week amid an increase in crimes by Chinese tourists on the popular resort island.

“The issue of stationing Chinese police (on Jeju) will be actively discussed with China after talks with our relevant departments, including the police, and if they so wish,” the ministry said. “Even if the Chinese police are stationed here, they would not be involved in our public safety activities, but only work with us in terms of sharing information on criminals and cooperating on safety issues.”  [Yonhap]

You can read more at the link.

Further Reading:

https://www.rokdrop.net/2016/09/should-south-korea-end-visa-waiver-program-for-jeju-island/

A group of “haenyeo,” or female divers, parade as part of an event to mark the 9th Jeju Haenyeo Festival held on the southern resort island of Jeju on Sept. 24, 2016. The two-day event, which kicked off on the day, includes various activities to introduce the female divers to visitors. (Yonhap)

After finding a stack of Jeju photos in his parent’s house, Pete DeMarco decided to follow in his father's footsteps https://t.co/P1Gw4wLfkl

— The Jeju Weekly (@JejuWeekly) September 26, 2016

With all the recent major crimes being committed on Jeju island some resident want to see the visa waiver program ended to better ensure public safety:

In line with the rise, the number of foreign tourists who commit crimes at one of the country’s most popular tourist sites has also increased.

The Jeju Provincial Police Agency said 347 foreign offenders have been arrested on Jeju as of July. The figure is up by nearly 60 percent from the number tallied in the same period last year, which stood at 218.

Among the 347 foreigners, Chinese nationals accounted for the largest proportion of offenders with 240, or 69.2 percent, followed by Americans with 13.

Reflecting such trends, calls to beef up security by local residents have been rising.

More than 14,500 people have signed a petition filed at a bulletin board of local Internet portal Daum as of Tuesday since it was first proposed on Sunday.

“The country’s precious island of Jeju has turned into a lawless zone with Chinese tourists who enter without visas,” the netizen who first proposed the petition said. “The safety of South Koreans should be given top priority than what can be earned from tourism.”  [Yonhap]

You can read more at the link.

Here is another story of someone from China committing a crime against a Korean national on Jeju:

A Chinese man suspected of attacking an elderly woman with a lethal weapon at a Catholic church in Jeju was arrested on Saturday, police said.

The 50-year-old man, whose identity was withheld by police, was hiding at an unidentified place in Seoguipo on the southern resort island of Jeju when police nabbed him, the Jeju Seobu Police Station said. The place is some 40 kilometers away from the scene of the incident.

He has since been under probe on attempted murder charges, they added.

The Chinese man fled the scene after stabbing the chest and abdomen of a 61-year-old Korean woman who was praying inside a Catholic church in Jeju alone at about 8:45 a.m., the police said. The type of weapon used was not specified.

The woman, identified only by her surname Kim, was in critical condition.  [Yonhap]

You can read more at the link, but I can’t help but think how much different the media reaction would be in South Korea if a USFK servicemember walked into a church and tried to murder someone like this.

This is a pretty bad attack considering this woman has signs of bleeding in her brain:

Police have arrested eight Chinese tourists on Jeju Island for allegedly bashing four Koreans, including a restaurant owner.

The tourists ― six men and two women ― were arrested Saturday for allegedly assaulting and injuring the Korean restaurant owner and three others, Jeju Seobu Police Station said on Monday.

The incident happened at the restaurant in the Yeondong district of Jeju.

Police said the tourists became angry when the restaurant owner, surnamed Ahn, 53, stopped them from drinking alcohol they had brought with them. They had placed their order but then decided to leave.

The tourists allegedly attacked the owner when she asked them to pay for the food. Police said they kicked her in the stomach and attempted to attack her with a bottle of alcohol.

The tourists were also accused of beating three others in the restaurant who tried to stop them, including Ahn’s son.

Ahn is being treated in hospital after signs of bleeding into her brain. Another victim is suffering facial fractures. [Korea Times]

You can read more at the link, but I wonder if the Chinese embassy will get involved and do everything they can to protect these thugs from being punished like they did when Chinese went on a rampage in Seoul in 2008 brutally beating Koreans in the streets.

A child finds a private cozy spot to cool down from the blistering heat at a waterfall in Sogwipo, a city on South Korea’s southern resort island of Jeju, on Aug. 12, 2016. (Yonhap)

Samda market is open tonight in Shin Jeju. Check it out for food, music and shopping! #Jeju https://t.co/P9vwuBf9f1 pic.twitter.com/qH6tuVCKO1

— The Jeju Weekly (@JejuWeekly) July 29, 2016

Mark Lippert (L), the United States ambassador to South Korea, speaks to students of Jeju National University at a sea wall in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, on May 15, 2016. Lippert also attended the Jeju Food & Wine Festival and met with Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong. (Yonhap)

A Chinese male (C) suspected of killing a Chinese woman on Jeju Island in late 2015 is brought to the Seogwipo Police Station by police officers in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, on May 15, 2016, for further investigation of the murder case. The body of the dead woman was discovered in April. [Yonhap]