Seoul Metro Launches October Crackdown on Subway Sex Crimes and Unlicensed Vendors

Seoul Metro announced it will designate October as a special enforcement month targeting sex crimes and unlicensed vendors on the subway, coinciding with the autumn festival season including Halloween.

An analysis of complaint and enforcement data from subway stations found that unlicensed vendor activity is concentrated at a handful of stations, and that illegal filming accounts for a disproportionately large share of subway sex crimes.

Based on those findings, Seoul Metro will deploy subway security officers intensively throughout October to patrol vulnerable zones and conduct focused crackdowns on both sex crimes and unlicensed vendors.

An analysis of sex crime enforcement data collected by subway security officers from 2022 to 2025 found that 143 of 157 total cases — 91 percent — involved illegal filming. Of those, 120 cases, or 83.9 percent, were detected inside station facilities, underscoring the importance of prevention and enforcement in high-risk spaces such as platforms, stairways and escalators.

Illegal filming offenses also tend to cluster at certain busy stations. Hongik University Station and Gangnam Station — both heavily trafficked and popular with younger riders — are among the most notable examples. However, the number of detected cases is not equivalent to the actual number of offenses committed, as figures can be affected by factors such as staffing levels and patrol hours.

Seoul Metro plans to strengthen patrols and enforcement at key stations where unlicensed vendor activity is concentrated — including Express Bus Terminal Station — and during peak hours, drawing on a comprehensive analysis of complaint frequency, recurrence patterns and time-of-day data.

Vendors selling goods in crowded conditions can cause collisions or falls among passengers and may impede emergency evacuations. Riders are also advised to exercise particular caution because the origin and quality of goods sold by unlicensed vendors are difficult to verify, and exchanges, refunds or other remedies are hard to obtain after a purchase.

Seoul Metro said it will continuously analyze complaints and enforcement results during the crackdown period and use the data to inform operations. The agency will deploy subway security officers flexibly and operate a data-driven prevention and enforcement system to strengthen public safety.

Seoul Metro also plans to concentrate personnel at Hongik University Station and Itaewon Station — where large crowds are expected during the Halloween period (Oct. 23–Nov. 1) — as well as at Seongsu Station and Konkuk University Station, which are also expected to see high congestion.

Ma Hae-geun, head of Seoul Metro's operations division, said the crackdown is significant because it focuses enforcement resources on vulnerable areas where citizen safety and comfort are most at risk, based on complaint and enforcement data. "During the autumn season, when local events such as Halloween draw large crowds, we will run this intensive enforcement month to create a subway environment where citizens can ride with peace of mind," he said.