31 January 2007: The happy life of crime

Gangsters enjoy their work more than the police, according to two surveys just published in South Korea.

The first survey was conducted among 109 jailed gangsters by the Korean Institute of Criminal Justice. Just under 80 percent said they were somewhat or very satisfied with their life in organised crime.

Only about 65 percent of police said they enjoyed their profession, according to the second survey.

One reason for the difference may be that South Korean gangsters make on average more than 2,000 pounds a month; much higher than the pay for police.