A racist crime against Koreans in their 70s has occurred in Koreatown, Los Angeles, USA, and controversy has arisen as it is known that the perpetrator was released within hours of arrest.



According to foreign media such as ABC, USA on the 12th local time, Samuel Kang (70), president of the Korea Freedom Movement Headquarters, was attacked by a stranger in Koreatown, Los Angeles, California on the morning of the 20th of last month.



In an interview with the local media, Chairman Kang said, "I was waiting for the bus, and a man passing by came up to me and shouted 'Go back to your country' several times. did," he said.



He continued, "I was assaulted while wearing glasses," he said.



The perpetrator fled immediately after the crime, but it is known that the police patrolling the area were arrested.



▲ A patrol car nearby at the time of the crime and the perpetrator arrested at the scene


However, Chairman Kang met the perpetrator again on the street just six days after the incident. "I was walking down the street in the morning and I met a man who hit me again," he said.



The perpetrator was said to have been released just hours after arrest. It was confirmed that the local police authorities had received a pledge to voluntarily attend criminal proceedings in the future and released the perpetrator without bail.



Chairman Kang said, "I am afraid of being the target of hate crimes again," he said. "I am just confused and embarrassed. I hope the justice system works better."



Steve Lee, an Asian-American and former mayor of Elk-Grove, Sacramento, California, said: James Ahn, president of the Korean American Association of Los Angeles, called for measures to be taken, saying, "There are many immigrants who did not even report it because of the language barrier."



Meanwhile, since the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes against Asians have increased significantly in the United States.



According to a report by the FBI, there were 7,759 hate crimes in the United States in 2020, the highest level in 12 years since 2008. In particular, it was found that hate crimes against Asians increased by 73.4% from 158 to 274.



However, if a report is not received or a case in which an investigation has not been conducted as a formal case, the damage is likely to be much greater.



Stop AAPI Hate, a human rights organization organized to eradicate discrimination against Asians in the United States, received 9,081 reports, of which 1,525 were Koreans.



(Photo = Captured from YouTube 'ABC7')