Koreans don’t steal anything except bicycles; I wonder why.

Bicycle theft is a surprisingly common issue in South Korea, and personal experiences, statistics, and expert insights all point to its persistence despite the country’s reputation for safety.

🚲 My Personal Experience with Bicycle Theft in Korea

As a Korean student, I once rode my bicycle to the library to study. When I returned, it was gone—stolen despite being locked. That moment was frustrating, but unfortunately, not unique. Many of my friends have had similar experiences. Some lost their bikes multiple times, even in areas with CCTV and foot traffic. It’s a quiet but widespread problem that affects students, commuters, and casual riders alike.

📊 How Common Is Bicycle Theft in Korea?

According to the Seoul Development Institute (서울연구원), over half of bicycle users in Seoul have experienced theft at least once. A survey of 1,026 residents revealed:

• 38% had their bicycle stolen once
• 34% twice
• 28% three times or more

In 2021, 12,148 bicycle thefts were reported in Korea, accounting for 7.3% of all theft crimes nationwide. While Korea’s overall crime rate is relatively low, bicycle theft remains a stubborn exception.

Here’s a graph showing the proportion of bicycle thefts among total theft crimes in South Korea:

Bicycle Theft Statistics in Korea

🧠 Why Is Bicycle Theft So Persistent?

Experts suggest several reasons:

• Low perceived risk: Many thieves believe they won’t be severely punished, especially for stealing low-cost bikes.
• Lack of registration: Unlike cars, bicycles don’t have license plates or a national registry, making them hard to track.
• Easy resale or reuse: Stolen bikes are often repainted and reused, especially in suburban areas with large student populations.
• Insufficient storage infrastructure: According to The Korea Times, the lack of secure bike parking contributes to theft, especially in urban zones.

Christy Cho, a manager at Apulsetech, noted that Yangcheon District in Seoul reported over 4,300 bicycle thefts in 2023 alone, prompting the city to deploy RFID-based tracking systems to combat the issue.

🛡️ What’s Being Done?

Innovative solutions like the “Bicycle Guardian Solution” use RFID chips embedded in license plates to track bikes in real time. These systems alert owners via smartphone apps when unauthorized movement is detected. Seoul is expanding this system to more districts, especially near schools and public plazas.

Bicycle theft in Korea is more than just an inconvenience—it’s a recurring issue that affects thousands annually. While the country is safe in many respects, the vulnerability of bicycles remains a blind spot. With better infrastructure and technology, there’s hope that this problem can be curbed.