Philippines 'most dangerous place' for Koreans

MANILA, Philippines — The Wall Street Journal dubbed the Philippines the "most dangerous place to be Korean" following reports that the country has most crimes targeting the foreign group.

"When it comes to the perils of being a Korean overseas, the Philippines has replaced China as the most dangerous destination," the newspaper said in a report published Tuesday.

The South Korea Foreign Ministry released new data earlier this month counting 780 crimes committed in the Philippines against Koreans in 2013—a significant number compared to the 589 offenses in China.

Crimes against Koreans in China decreased from 759 in 2012, while the figure leaped from 628 that year in the Philippines.

Included in the 2013 numbers are 13 murders—all local businessmen—as well as 12 robberies, 678 cases of theft, nine kidnappings and 12 assaults, according to the Chosun Ilbo, a leading South Korean English-language newspaper.

Since 2014 started, eight Koreans have already been killed in the Philippines.

South Korean Ambassador Lee Hyuk last month expressed concern over the rising number of victims, urging Manila to take "preemptive action" and strengthen measures to protect South Koreans visiting and living in the country.

Koreans in the Philippines are among the largest foreign communities pegged at 100,000. South Korea is also the largest source of tourists for the Philippines in an increasing rate the past years.

READ: Why Koreans tour and stay in the Philippines

Criminals from South Korea, meanwhile, also top the list of foreign arrests in the country at 34 in 2013. Cases range from forgery, drug-related crimes to heinous acts such as murder.