Jeju police learn Chinese to help deal with crime

Police officers learn Chinese at Nohyeong patrol division in Jeju. / Screencaptured from the Internet

By Hong Dam-young

Police on Jeju Island are learning Chinese to help deal with a rising number of crimes involving people from the neighboring country.

Jeju Seobu Police Station recently launched a Chinese class for officers at Nohyeong patrol division.

They learn basic Chinese conversation and about Chinese culture that would be useful in dealing with Chinese involved in crimes on the island.

The number of Chinese committing crimes in the island has been increasing from 58 in 2011 to 260 last year. Between January and October last year, Chinese accounted for more than 70 percent of the 558 crimes committed by foreigners on the island.

“The program is getting popular. There are officers who join the class on their day off,” said an official of Nohyeong patrol division.

“Attendees are highly satisfied with the program because they can apply what they learn to real situations.”

The class runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for 30 minutes from 6:30 p.m.

Police plan to run the program in other stations on the island.