In South Korean cafes, it is common for people to leave their laptops unattended when stepping away.
Foreigners often find this surprising.
One reason could be the large number of CCTVs in Korea.
However, having more CCTVs does not necessarily mean a lower theft rate, as some countries with more surveillance still have higher crime rates.
While the fact that laptops are difficult to convert into cash may be a practical reason, a bigger factor seems to be Korea’s social atmosphere, where people are constantly aware of and monitoring each other.
Koreans place great importance on how they are perceived by others and, as a result, tend to take a keen interest in those around them.
A well-known example of this collective mindset was the response to the Taean oil spill.
Over 1.23 million volunteers from across the country participated in the cleanup efforts, allowing the removal of the oil to be completed in just over a week.
However, there is also a perception that bicycle theft is relatively common in Korea, even to the point of becoming a meme.
This suggests that when people are not under public scrutiny or surveillance, theft still occurs frequently.
It may also be because stealing a bicycle is perceived as a minor crime.
Korea is often described as having a collectivist and warm-hearted society, which can be a strength but also a source of excessive interference and pressure.
For example, celebrities are expected to maintain a kind and upright image.
If a celebrity has a rebellious image or appears arrogant, they are often criticized by the public.
Even if the critics are not the majority, once a negative image is formed, broadcasting companies become hesitant to invite that celebrity, making it difficult for them to appear on television.
Furthermore, Korean society faces many social problems and accumulated frustrations.
Although the root causes lie with powerful entities such as large corporations, conglomerates, judges, prosecutors, government officials, and the media, people often turn a blind eye to these issues or passively accept them.
Instead, they tend to take out their frustrations on celebrities or ordinary individuals.
