A Korean exchange student a Penn State was beaten to death with a baseball bat by some white dude, reports the U.S. edition of the JoongAng Ilbo (via the Dong-A Ilbo). To get an idea of how gruesome a killing this was, however, you need to read the U.S. media reports:
The victim had been struck at least a half dozen times with a wooden rolling pin, at least twice with a beer bottle and nearly a dozen times with a wooden baseball bat, Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said.
The suspect claims the victim drew a gun on him, although no gun was found at the scene. According to the Korean report, the Korean–identified by his family name of Park–was a friend of the suspect.
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As a PSU alum I am especially troubled about this case. State collegve is set in generally a safe mostly rural part of Pennsylvania. It could be a matter of distance from the scene and language barriers, but the Korean report gives us no sense of the murkiness of events. They do make sure that the race of the suspect is identified.
A sad story. Unfortunately, there are scumbags around everywhere who will do despicable stuff like this to another human being. In my very quiet hometown, some pieces of shiite threw some young drunk guy down a garbage chute on the 12th floor of the dorms. Unfortunately, the perpetrators basically got away with murder on that one.
Interesting that the first I heard of this from a US news outlet made no mention of the ethnicity of those involved.
A really stupid debate was going on a Korean news website, which put “PSU” as “명문 펜실바니아 주립대.” A question raised by some netizens was which school (either PSU or UPenn) he went to. When netizens found out that the victim went PSU, some corrected that PSU was not “명문” but UPenn was. Oh, brother… What difference did it make? Korea’s 명문 대학 syndrome becomes incurable disease…
Jeez
america is a very dangerous country.
June–noticed that debate in the comments section of the piece above. Actually, I had to check the U.S. press accounts just to make sure which school it was, because I, too, assumed that with 명문 in the headline, they had simply mistranslated UPenn as 펜실바니아 주립대. In fact, they didn’t. Which is to take nothing away from Penn State, of course. And yes, it had nothing to do with the piece itself.
“Lox bearer”, Korea is a very dangerous country for children as well, considering the statistics regarding accidents and injury for such.
Unlike Korea, Pennsylvania undoubtedly has a legal system that will put those bums in jail for longer than one or two years.
Elgin, I’m fairly certain he was referring to violent crime… since beating someone senseless is no ‘accident’. But, in general… Korea is much safer than the US.
Snippets from a comparative analysis of crime statistics by the Ministry of Interior, Taiwan.
1. All criminal cases
In 1998, England and Wales had the highest offense rate of all criminal cases among the 20 countries. The rate was 9,823.28 for per 100,000 persons. Canada had the second highest rate, which was 8,452.54 for per 100,000 persons. The rate in Germany was 7,868.88 for per 100,000 persons. The rate in Taiwan was 1,989.92 cases out of every 100,000 persons. The rate in Taiwan was the 10th lowest and lower than England & Wales, Canada, Germany, France, U.S. (excluding fraud, counterfeit of currency offenses and drug offenses), Italy, and Spain. However, the rate in Taiwan was higher than the rate in Japan (which was 1,670.88 for per 100,000 persons) and the rate in Korea (which was 1,347.56 for per 100,000 persons).
In terms of solved criminal cases, Taiwan had a rate of solving criminal cases of 57.91%, which was the third highest rate among the countries. The rate was next only to South Korea (87.30%) and Russia Federation (74.40%).
2. Murder
Various countries have different definitions for murder and different degrees of attempted murder. Thus, in terms of completed murder, Russia Federation had the highest crime rate of murder (completed crime) among the 17 countries in 1998, which was 18.07 for per 100,000 persons. U.S. had the second highest crime rate of murder, which was 6.32 for per 100,000 persons. Malaysia had the third highest crime rate of murder, which was 2.73 for per 100,000 persons. The crime rate of murder in Taiwan (completed crime) was 1.17 for per 100,000 persons, which was the fifth lowest rate. The rate was lower than Russia Federation, U.S., Malaysia, Argentina, Canada, France, Italy, England & Wales, and Germany. The rate was higher than Spain (1.08 for per 100,000 persons) and Japan (0.58 for per 100,000 persons).
3. Rape
In 1998, U.S. had the highest crime rate of rape (gang rape) cases among the 17 countries, which was 34.20 for per 100,000 persons. England and Wales had the second highest crime rate of rape cases, which was 14.69 for per 100,000 persons. France had the third highest rate of such cases, which was 13.38 for per 100,000 persons. The crime rate of rape cases in Taiwan was the seventh highest (8.82 for per 100,000 persons). The rate was lower than U.S., England & Wales, France, Chile, the Netherlands, and Germany but higher than South Korea (4.38 for per 100,000 persons), Spain (3.23 for per 100,000 persons) and Japan (1.48 for per 100,000 persons).
In terms of rate of solving rape cases, Taiwan had the highest solving rate, which was 92.05%. South Korea had a solving rate of 90.92%. Japan had a solving rate of 88.2%. France had a solving rate of 85.20% and U.S. had a lowest solving rate, which was 49.90%.
If you want to compare apples and oranges go ahead… (violent crime vs accidental injury)
The US is far more dangerous a place than South Korea.
Unlike Korea, Pennsylvania undoubtedly has a legal system that will put those bums in jail for longer than one or two years.
Absolutely. It’s Michigan where White people can get away with killing an Asian with a baseball bat.
Random Guy,
I don’t think the rates for “all criminal cases” and especially rape cases are particularly useful as a comparison, particularly if these stats refer to actual reported cases.
Simply put, the percentage of rape cases in Korea that are actually reported is so low that a comparison is meaningless. South Korea may have a rate of rape ten times higher than that of the US, even if its apparent rate is only half the US.
Similarly, a lot of general crime is not reported by citizens here, especially if the victim feels that the perp will not be caught or not brought to justice (a self-fulfilling prophecy, in many cases). Thus, theft and many types of physical assault are not reported, so again a comparison is not particularly useful.
I’m not saying that Korea is not safe (it is for the most part, but it’s not exactly crime-free, either), just that comparisons can be of the apples and oranges variety.
Murder, which is harder to hide or not report, is a better measuring stick.
Kushibo,
You’re absolutely right, but using murder as the sole yardstick here would make the US seem like a cesspool in comparison to Korea, which we know isn’t the case. In any case, I only copy/pasted three of the statistical categories, otherwise I would have had a three page long comment. I’m not certain I agree with your assessment of general crime, but I can see where you are coming from and it’s entirely possible. Regardless, VIOLENT crimes by and large occur in much more frequency and on a higher per capita basis in the US than in Korea.
I feel much safer walking around at night regardless of what part of town I am in in Seoul, than I do in the states where in some parts I won’t even leave my car unless absolutely necessary.
Korea’s the safest place I’ve ever lived. Or at least it feels that way. The only reason I get nervous at all is because I live near Haebangchon.
There was also that Japanese exchange student who got shot dead in Lousiana a few years back, and whose killer was found innocent of manslaughter.
I’m sure the Pennsylvania justice system will do the right thing and be scrupulously fair to everybody involved, but there have been some high profile cases where things didn’t appear to work out that way.
Chinese delivery guys beaten to death in the streets of NY:
February 12th 2004: Huang Chen, beaten to death
October 15th, 2002: Jian Lin Chun, stabbed to death in the lobby of a building
September 1st, 2000: Jin-Sheng Liu, killed making a delivery
June 23rd, 1999: Ng Cheung Cheung, was beaten to death with a baseball bat
December 10th, 1998, Li-Rong Lin, was stabbed to death
jyce, I thought about mentioning that Hattori, too, but the case of Robert Ebens and Michael Nitz, who beat a Chinese-American man to death with a baseball bat in what was apparently a race-motivated crime and later plea-bargained down to manslaughter and served no jail time, spoke more directly to this case. It sort of puts some doubt in the culprits “undoubtedly” being put in jail for longer than one or two years.
From the Pennsylvania paper:
And then…
At least half a dozen times with a rolling pin…
Then twice with a beer bottle…
And then nearly A DOZEN TIMES with a baseball bat…
And we’re supposed to believe this is self-defense?
Apparently the best defense is a good offense.
Kushibo said
“At least half a dozen times with a rolling pin…
Then twice with a beer bottle…
And then nearly A DOZEN TIMES with a baseball bat…
And we’re supposed to believe this is self-defense?”
Doesn’t the american defense, military-industrial complex also work the same way?
Two observations:
First, it’s hard to buy self-defense. Still, it’s possible that the altercation may have started in self-defense — the jury’s analysis should focus on whether there was a moment at which the apprehension of danger had passed and the killer-in-self-defense could have gotten away. If he continues his attack after that point (say, by going for the baseball bat) it constitutes a criminal battery. However, the level of violence described in this case possibly indicates, if true, some form of impairment on the perpetrator’s side — either he’s retarded, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or insane. Those are things which sometimes result in acquittal or reduced sentence if the perpetrator is not black (I’m not saying this is just, simply that it is so).
Second, without dispute Korea is one of the safest places in the world to live and raise kids. Even with the enhanced possibility of getting struck by a vehicle and killed, the complete absence of a sense of menace on the streets of Korea is a real plus. As a father I do worry about the general social tolerance of molesters, but on the whole when assessing dangers to myself and my daughters, I believe this society deserves recognition and high praise for personal safety. Sometimes I travel to lawyers’ conferences in “world cities” like Prague, Auckland, Brussels, Madrid, San Francisco, Durban (South Africa), and Acapulco. Every last one of these places has characters on the streets at night (in Durban and San Francisco during the daytime) who are really unnerving to be around. When I return to Korea there is a palpable sense of relief that I really don’t have to look out for muggers and stabbers.
This last thing is something that AmCham (since it’s a boosterish organization now) and KOTRA should really emphasize, if only to compensate for some of the annoying negatives.
Yes, Korea is incredibly safe by comparison to western countries. I feel safer in Seoul than in may small city out in the boonies in Canada! It’s also very sad and downright disgusting that the murderers of Chin didn’t even do jail time. Unbelievable. All murderers should be doing seriously long prison sentences (or better yet, maybe more executions are called for).
Doesn’t the american defense, military-industrial complex also work the same way?
I realize that infantile politics is the only brand you know and practice, LiceBearer, but do you have to inject your nonsense into the tragedy of young Park’s death?
I do not think this case is racially-motivated. The killer and the victim seem to be friends. They gambled together and may have done drugs together as well.
The victim, a Korean college student, did not understand what kind of people he was associating with. Because of his lack of knowledge, he is baseballbatted to death.
Korean students should be warned about American society and dangerous types. Some violent and drug-crazy people live in the US.
No argument from me on the relative safety from street crime in most Asian countries and cities. But the civil libertarian in me does have to note that, rightly or wrongly, these countries do not have jury trials and, broadly speaking, do not have qualms about locking up the innocent. Many if not most convictions are confession-based and coercion is also a key part of the investigation process.
“In terms of rate of solving rape cases, Taiwan had the highest solving rate, which was 92.05%. South Korea had a solving rate of 90.92%. Japan had a solving rate of 88.2%. France had a solving rate of 85.20% and U.S. had a lowest solving rate, which was 49.90%.”
I sure don’t miss all the violence and crime of the US. Why can’t Americans just pull at each other’s waistbands like they do here instead of resulting to blows?
without dispute Korea is one of the safest places in the world
Not while Kim Jong Il lives across the border.
One thing about the reporting of crime and violent crimes stats — I don’t believe Koreans report crime nearly as frequently as Americans.
Koreans don’t like cops. Americans don’t either, but due to Korea’s authoritarian history, they don’t like cops much more. Given the corruption in Korea, it is another factor. And Korean society isn’t as concerned about the more common violent crimes like we are in the US.
Americans are much, much more likely to turn to blows like Max said than Koreans. I was amazed how much bodily contact even drunks in Korea would tolerate without resulting to fists.
But, in the US, if pushing and showing and maybe a punch is thrown, people are much more likely to call the cops and a report will be written and another violent crime goes into the stats. If there is any sign of the violence, a black eye or bloody nose, it goes into the same column as someone put in the hospital. Also, in the US, if it is a domestic phycial confrontation, even without minor bloodshed, it often goes into the more serious assault column.
Koreans don’t call the police nearly as often, and I don’t think the police file such cases nearly as often when they are called.
I remember living near E-Mart in Pundang. Any given Saturday or Sunday, if you stood near the down escalator or the mandarin orange cage, you were going to see two Korean women going at each other at some point. Many shouting matches, but also many hair pullings and slaps.
In the US, that gets the police and a report and maybe a check in the violent crimes stat sheet.
Not in Korea.
Also, how many times have you seen on the Korean news drunk ass people in the small police stations or the ones near the entertainment areas where the drunks scream at the cops and even push and pull on them or worse. How many of the times you see that does it look like those people are locked up?
In the US, that’s don’t play at all. You lay a hand on a cop like that, or you go to a police station raising a big drunken stink, you are going to the ground and get locked up — and a stat goes into the violent crimes column — because physical confrontations with the police are viewed as very serious.
I’m not saying the US isn’t violent or that Korea isn’t peaceful.
American society is violent. Korea is much safer.
But, focusing on the stats primarily is significantly misleading.
And the earlier note about rape — a pretty f-ing serious violent crime — in Korean society is spot on.
I remember hearing a good bit in the 1990s how some cat burglars would routinely rape the wife or daughter in the apartment so the family would not report the break-in, because they didn’t want the family to wear the shame in public.
(U)Penn really needs to change its name. This confusing with Penn State is starting to get ridiculous…
I would agree that Korea is safer than the US, unless you are a housewife.