The number of organized gang members prosecutors are keeping an eye on topped 11,000 across the nation. According to the report submitted by Justice Ministry to Rep. Choi Byung-gook of Grand National Party on Monday, 11,476 members from 471 organized gangs are on the supervision list of prosecutors. Among them, 167 groups were deemed criminal organizations by courts. Busan district prosecutors had the most on their hands with 1,833 gang members from 101 groups, followed by 1,581 members from 45 groups in Suwon, 1,542 from 33 groups in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province and 1,193 members from 81 groups in central Seoul.

Prosecutors name two reasons why there are more mobsters on the Busan list than in Seoul. One is that Busan offers more opportunities for extortion with its busy sea port, and the other is that organized criminals in the southern city often carry their activities in public, making it easy for police and prosecutors to spot them. “In Seoul, organized gangs go underground and camouflage their activities as a business,” a prosecutor said. “But Busan-based organized gangs often engage in violence even in public places.” Last January, three syndicates attacked the largest local gang at Youngrak Garden funeral home in Busan and 50 gangsters were arrested.

Gangsters are often arrested in turf wars and while extorting money from traders. Last February in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, members of the Suwon Southgate gang attacked a place where rival gangsters were staying; four died or were wounded in the attack. In the first half of this year, 75 gangsters were arrested for major offenses.

(englishnews@chosun.com )