Ransom
Overview
Ransom (몸값) refers to money or property benefits demanded by a criminal who has illegally detained a person or property in exchange for release. It is generally demanded with the life and safety of a hostage as collateral in kidnapping crimes, and can become a matter of negotiation not only for individuals but also for corporations or states. Beyond being a mere criminal profit, ransom is used for various motives such as terrorist financing and achieving political goals.
Main Content
History of Ransom
Ransom has existed since ancient times in human history. In ancient Rome, cases of kidnapping war prisoners or nobles and demanding ransom are recorded. During the Middle Ages, it was common for knights or nobles captured in war to pay a ransom and be released. During the Crusades, ransom payments sometimes escalated into international diplomatic issues. In the modern era, ransom demands became frequent alongside piracy, and after the 19th century, they became linked to organized crime and developed into an industrialized form.
Types of Ransom
Ransom is broadly classified into the following types.
- Hostage ransom: The most typical form, in which a person is kidnapped and money is demanded as the condition for their release.
- Property ransom: A case in which art, precious metals, pets, or other property is illegally taken and money is demanded in exchange for its return.
- Cyber ransom: Typically represented by ransomware attacks, in which hackers take control of a company's or individual's system or encrypt important data and demand money in exchange for unlocking it.
- Political ransom: A case in which terrorist organizations or rebel groups take hostages and demand ransom from governments or the international community to achieve political demands.
Ransom and the Law
In most countries, including South Korea, kidnapping with a demand for ransom is treated as a serious crime. The South Korean Criminal Act prescribes kidnapping and confinement crimes, and offenders are punished under charges such as hostage coercion. In addition, under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment etc. of Crimes of Kidnapping, Confinement, etc., those who demand ransom are subject to aggravated punishment. Internationally, the principle is not to pay ransom for hostages kidnapped by terrorists. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2133 (2013) urged the prohibition of ransom payments to terrorists. In practice, however, there have been reported cases in which some countries or corporations secretly paid ransom to save hostages' lives.
The Economics of Ransom
Ransom forms one axis of the economics of crime. Worldwide, the kidnapping and ransom trade is estimated at billions of dollars annually. Somali piracy in particular is known to have generated between approximately USD 30 million and USD 40 million in ransom revenue each year. The ransom market follows the logic of supply and demand, with criminal organizations assessing victims' ability to pay and devising negotiation strategies. Some insurance companies sell Kidnap & Ransom (K&R) insurance to cover risks for corporations or individuals residing in high-risk areas.
Ransom Negotiation
Hostage negotiation has developed into a specialized field. Police and psychologists study negotiation techniques and use strategies that buy time and neutralize criminals' demands while protecting hostages' lives. Building a trust relationship with the criminal during the negotiation process is especially important, and paying the ransom is considered only in extremely limited situations. In the corporate sector, the practice of hiring professional negotiators as part of crisis management is increasing.
Latest Trends
From 2024 to 2025, ransom-related crime is evolving rapidly alongside digital transformation. As ransomware attacks surge worldwide, most ransom demands now occur in cyberspace, with amounts ranging from millions to tens of millions of dollars. In 2024 in particular, major global companies, hospitals, and local governments suffered damage from ransomware attacks, and increasing numbers refused to pay and instead focused on recovery. At the same time, however, with the growth of the cyber insurance market, there is a tendency for ransomware payments to become routine.
Meanwhile, actual hostage-kidnapping crimes still occur in parts of the Middle East and Africa. In early 2025, a mass kidnapping of students from a school in Nigeria drew international criticism. In response, governments around the world are strengthening international cooperation to prevent ransom payments. The United States and the European Union are discussing legislation to impose sanctions on companies or individuals who pay ransom to terrorists. Domestically, policies are evolving to raise the level of punishment for ransom-demand crimes and expand victim support systems.
Related Topics
- [[Kidnapping]]
- [[Hostage negotiation]]
- [[Ransomware]]
- [[Terrorism]]
- [[K&R insurance]]