US State Department mentions crime in profile of South Korea.

The Chosun Ilbo has the story, which draws attention to two particular parts of the profile for the Republic of Korea. Under "Safety and Security":

Demonstrations, protests, and vigils occur frequently, with participants often protesting major Korean social issues such as the following: the presence of U.S. military forces in Korea; U.S. military base relocations in Korea; labor accords; discussions regarding a Free Trade Agreement between Korea and the United States; U.S. involvement in the war in Iraq; and the Republic of Korea’s decision to maintain troops in Iraq; and, more recently, the opening of the Korean market to U.S. beef. While the majority of the political, labor, and student demonstrations and marches are non-violent, some have on occasion become confrontational. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can escalate into violence. U.S. citizens are therefore urged to avoid areas near demonstrations and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any protests.

U.S. citizens and their families, especially young adults, are advised to exercise prudence and caution when visiting the Hongdae and Sinchon areas of Seoul. These areas, where many night clubs are located, have occasionally been the sites of bar or street fights and harassment involving Westerners.

And under "Crime":

Although the crime rate in the Republic of Korea is low, there is a higher incidence of pick-pocketing, purse snatching, assault, hotel room and residential burglary, and residential crime in major metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and Busan, than elsewhere in Korea. U.S. citizens are more likely to be targeted in known tourist areas, such as Itaewon (near the U.S. Army Garrison in the Yongsan area) and large market areas downtown. Incidents of rape have been reported in popular nightlife districts in Seoul, as well as in the victims’ residences. Travelers should exercise caution when traveling alone at night and should use only legitimate taxis or public transportation. Travelers may reduce the likelihood of becoming a crime victim by exercising the same type of security precautions they would take when visiting any large city in the United States.

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.

There's also a few paragraphs on traffic safety. In spite of the Chosun Ilbo's headline, the profile doesn't actually say "dangerous" anywhere. And it's all fairly standard stuff, consistent with information you'll find on every country listed. Matter of fact it could have been more damning had it spent time on sexual assault or prostitution. The Marmot's Hole wrote this up yesterday, which spawned a post by The Metropolitician about "tips to avoid being assaulted in Korea." Take the latter with as many grains of salt as you'd like; common sense would dictate one stay away from obnoxious drunk people, not feel up girls, and be mindful of your surroundings, regardless of how loud and inebriated the Koreans around you are.

You'll recall that the US Embassy in Seoul sent out an advisory for parts of Seoul in 2005 when Koreans were harassing and assaulting foreigners because of some derogatory posts on a message board. The bulk of the Embassy's message:

The U.S. Embassy is transmitting the following information through the Embassy's warden system as a public service to all U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea. Please disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your organizations.

Recently, inflammatory sexual content was posted to a website for English language teachers in Korea. That posting together with subsequent postings were taken by some to demean Korean women. We have noted recently, strong reaction in the form of web postings threatening attacks in the vicinity of Hongik University and the Sinchon area against Americans and other foreigners who speak English. All Americans and their families (especially young adults) are encouraged to exercise prudence and caution when visiting these neighborhoods. The Embassy advises that inappropriate social behavior in public may be seen as provocative by Korean nationals.

I'm not familiar enough with Seoul to know the extent this tension lingers at night, but anecdotal evidence is enough to convince me to find other groups to run with after dark. And last year YTN ran a story on how foreigners are turning Hongdae into a "lawless zone." You know, in the same neighborhood that is promoted as a center for art, culture, and fashion?