Reported sex crimes in Korea increased by 61.6 percent in five years to 22,034 cases in 2011, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said Monday.

Seoul City recorded the highest rate of sex crimes per capita in the nation with 61.4 sex offenses per 100,000 people, followed by Bucheon with 60.9, and Suwon with 56.9.

The number of sexual assault and abduction cases against children under the age of 13 years was 1,054 and 89, respectively.

Among sex crimes against children, 23.8 percent and 32.6 percent were committed by people acquainted with the victims including relatives, friends and neighbors. Almost 40 percent of sex crimes against children occurred between noon and 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, a total of 1.9 million overall crimes occurred last year.

The period when crimes occurred most frequently was between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., recording 34 percent.

Crimes was most prevalent on Saturday, marking 15.6 percent, followed by Friday, 15 percent, Tuesday, 14 percent, and Thursday, 13.9 percent.

Crimes took the lives of 2,813 people, and wounded 18,163 last year. Homicide cases amounted to 1,221.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)