Sweden's Transformation: From Welfare Paradise to Gang Haven

Sweden's welfare paradise is now overshadowed by rising gang violence and failed immigrant integration.

### Sweden: From Welfare Paradise to Gangster Haven
* 🇸🇪 Sweden, once celebrated as a welfare paradise due to its Nordic model, is now facing a troubling **rise in gang-related crime**.
* 📈 The country has seen a **significant increase in organized crime** since the early 2000s, with gun-related crimes surging, leading to Sweden having the **highest gun death rate in Europe** since 2018.
* 🔫 According to the Swedish National Crime Prevention Council, Sweden's gun homicide rate is **2.5 times higher** than the European average, with **366 shooting incidents** reported in 2020.
* 👥 The rise of youth gangs has further complicated the situation, with **over 80% of gang members being immigrants or children of immigrants**, highlighting issues with **immigrant integration**.
* 🏚 Sweden's historical acceptance of immigrants, especially after World War II, has led to a **high immigrant population**, which now stands at **nearly 20% of the total population** of 10.9 million.
* ⚖ The Swedish government has acknowledged the severity of the situation, with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stating that "**no other country in Europe has faced circumstances like those currently occurring in Sweden**."
* 🚨 In response, plans to combat gang violence include **increasing the judicial budget** and **strengthening punishments for juvenile offenders**, though experts warn it may take **at least a decade to resolve these issues**.
* 🛡 The ongoing challenges of social integration and rising crime rates have led to calls for **stricter immigration policies**, raising concerns about the **future of Sweden's national identity and security**.

The story you didn't know today is about Sweden, which has become a haven for gangsters. Recently, in a video discussing the Scandinavian countries, Sweden was also mentioned. Located in Northern Europe, particularly in the Scandinavian region, Sweden has long been referred to as a welfare paradise. This is because Sweden has adopted the Nordic model, which prioritizes community happiness over individual achievement. Not only is welfare well-established, but the per capita GDP is also among the highest in the world. The Nordic stage has also been addressed in the video about Scandinavian countries, so to put it simply, you can think of it as a model that combines capitalism and socialism. It provides high welfare for workers while offering significant benefits to businesses. The high personal tax rates and relatively low corporate tax rates compared to South Korea illustrate this point.

Rich resources, a small population, and clean politics—if any one of these is lacking, the Nordic model cannot be implemented. Through this Nordic model, the people of Sweden enjoy welfare services such as free healthcare and free education. However, the peaceful image of Sweden, once best described as a welfare paradise, is now being threatened by the emergence of another label. In recent years, Sweden has gained more attention for its notoriety as a haven for gangsters rather than for its welfare system. This is not just a slight increase in gang-related crime; it has been significantly rising. Since the early 2000s, organized crime has gradually increased in Sweden, and by the mid-2000s, gun-related crimes also began to rise. From the 2010s onwards, gun-related...

As the number of fatalities has sharply increased, Sweden has become the country with the highest gun death rate in Europe since 2018. According to data from the Swedish National Crime Prevention Council, Sweden's gun homicide rate is 2.5 times higher than the European average. In 2020, there were a staggering 366 shooting incidents, making Sweden the country with the highest rate of gun crime per capita in the European Union. While violent crimes committed by individuals are certainly a significant issue, the most serious problem in Sweden currently is the high crime rate, which is primarily due to gang-related activities and the illegal drug trade. The emergence of youth gangs has further exacerbated the situation, turning Sweden, once considered a safe country, into a place that is now causing problems for neighboring European countries. In 2023,

In September, the Swedish government mobilized the military to wage war on crime. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated in a broadcast that the severity of the situation is beyond words, acknowledging that no other country in Europe has faced circumstances like those currently occurring in Sweden. How did Sweden, which once seemed perfect, become a haven for gangsters? The primary cause, to put it simply, is the issue of immigrant integration. Over the past decade, Sweden has been one of the European countries most actively accepting a large number of immigrants, including refugees. Out of a total population of 10.9 million, 2.14 million are immigrants, meaning that the immigrant ratio is nearly 20%. Considering that the average immigrant ratio in Europe is only 5.3%, it is clear that Sweden has a significantly high percentage of immigrants. How did Sweden end up like this?

The increase in the number of immigrants can be traced back to the 1950s. After World War II, Sweden began to accept immigrants and refugees to foster economic growth and fill the labor shortage. From that time, Sweden provided a strong welfare system through its integration policy, distinguishing itself as one of the most welcoming countries for foreigners worldwide. Naturally, it became a preferred destination for immigrants. The economic boom following World War II continued, and by the late 1960s, Sweden enjoyed a stable economy, establishing itself as one of the most successful countries in terms of economic growth among Western nations. As the economy developed and high-value-added education and industries expanded, there was a natural need to broaden the labor force.

To address the need for workers, Sweden welcomed more immigrants, and workers from Europe began to move to Sweden, primarily from Finland, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Turkey. However, starting in the late 1960s, as Sweden's economic expansion slowed and the demand for labor began to decrease, the country started to regulate labor immigration from non-Nordic countries. This marked a temporary halt in the era of labor immigration. You can probably sense that Sweden's immigration policy was in a very chaotic state at that time. The Swedish government believed that foreign workers would come to Sweden temporarily and then return to their home countries. Consequently, the immigration office was only established in 1969. Even after its establishment, immigration policy continued to operate within a disordered administrative system for a long time.

Until the 1980s, various periods and local governments led immigration policies in different ways. To put it in our terms, this means that the immigration policies of Seoul and Busan were different. Moreover, most foreign workers obtained citizenship and brought their families from their home countries. Even the immigrants who had already settled in Sweden were not systematically managed, and in the early 1990s, the Yugoslav Wars in the Balkans caused a surge of refugees into Sweden. Sweden accommodated around 100,000 refugees, partly because there was a need for labor. Thanks to the revision of the immigrant integration program, managing immigrants became somewhat easier, but the sudden influx of population still caused serious social issues such as increased unemployment rates, rising housing prices, and greater financial expenditure burdens. Ultimately, anti-immigration and anti-immigrant sentiment increased, leading to...

Sweden has faced conflicts regarding the balance between national identity, social integration, openness, and security. However, with the outbreak of wars such as the Syrian Civil War in 2015, over 163,000 refugees applied for asylum, leading to what is known as the migrant crisis. As a result, a parallel society emerged where immigrants and refugees were not absorbed into Swedish society, creating issues with social integration. Refugees lived in a manner that was geographically and socially separated from Swedish society. Since 1965, Sweden has been implementing a program to build one million housing units around major urban areas over a span of ten years. The purpose of this program was to provide affordable and quality housing for all Swedish citizens. However, these large housing complexes became popular among the immigrants who had entered the country at the time due to their low prices, ultimately leading to a concentration of immigrants in certain neighborhoods.

형성된 문제는 이 교회 지역들이 시간이 지나면서 스웨덴 주류 사회와 분리되는 경향을 보였다는 것입니다. 같은 국가에서 차별받는다, 혹은 차별받는 것 같다. 이 말은 곧 갈등을 의미합니다. 이민자들은 언어 습득과 문화 적응을 위한 지원을 받지 못했고, 상당수가 스웨덴 사회에 융합되는 어려움을 느꼈습니다. 핵심적으로 스웨덴에서 나고 자란 사람들은 양질의 교육을 받고 고부가가치 일을 하는 반면, 이민자와 난민들은 그렇지 못했습니다. 결국 이민자와 난민들은 낮은 학업 성취도, 높은 청년 실업률, 높은 범죄율과 같은 사회 문제를 초래하게 되었습니다. 진짜 문제는 여기서 끝나지 않는다는 것입니다. 이렇게 생긴 갈등은 한쪽이 양보하기 전까지 심화된다는 게 문제입니다. 스웨덴 사람들 사이에서도 반이민 정서가 점차 늘어나기 시작했습니다. 특히 고용.

In the market, direct and indirect discrimination against immigrants has increased. Previously, they were not hired because they lacked the necessary skills, but now, even if immigrants have the skills, they are still not being hired. The failure of social integration for the immigrant generation has had a lasting impact on the next generation, the second generation of immigrants. These second-generation immigrant youth struggle with academic achievement due to their inadequate Swedish language skills, and they face economic difficulties that make it hard to continue their education. Even if they do graduate from school, they experience discrimination in the job market solely because they are immigrants. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the number of young people who turn to criminal organizations, such as gangs, to make a living. According to police records, more than 80% of gang members or individuals associated with gangs were either immigrants or residents born abroad, with at least one parent being an immigrant.

When including those who have been born, the ratio is 95%. In fact, the most serious issue emerging in Sweden is the problem of youth gangs, specifically child gangs. The children do not actually form organized gangs; rather, those under the age of 15 are considered juvenile offenders, which leads many criminal organizations to recruit young adolescents as young as 13 or 14 years old for criminal activities. The recruited youths are often involved in so-called contract killings. According to the testimony of a youth affiliated with a gang, he received over 100 million won after killing one person. For these youths, who are driven to gangs due to economic hardships and social disconnection, the gangs provide shelter, food, and a sense of community, making them feel a sense of belonging. In fact, the gangs can feel like a refuge. The Swedish government is addressing the influence of gangs in Sweden.

In Sweden, crime organizations are estimated to number around 50. They do not only operate in the shadows; they have infiltrated schools, hospitals, and elderly care businesses, disguising themselves as legitimate companies. The profits generated by these legitimate businesses have begun to exceed those from criminal activities. This means that crime organizations first earn money through illegal means, then invest that money into businesses. If they face competition, they resort to methods like contract killings to eliminate their rivals or harass them, gradually taking over their interests. After thoroughly laundering their operations, they become legitimate businesspeople. In a few years, it seems likely that a gritty noir film will emerge from Sweden. On the surface, these companies pretend to be legitimate, but they continue to handle competitors and reap benefits through illegal methods behind the scenes. The gangs that have grown so large in Sweden have also extended their influence into Denmark and Norway.

Finland and other neighboring countries are expanding their areas of activity. Sweden has even gained the image of a troublesome country. The Swedish government is aware of this. The Prime Minister knew that such a situation would arise in 2023, but the government deliberately ignored it and was politically ignorant. They blamed the irresponsible immigration policies and failed integration policies for the current state, criticizing past Social Democratic governments. The Social Democrats, short for the Swedish Social Democratic Labour Party, is the oldest political party in Sweden, founded in 1889. They were in power almost continuously from 1932 to 2006 and played a significant role in establishing Sweden's comprehensive welfare system. The problem is that the Social Democrats, during their time in power in 2014, supported an open immigration policy, and at that time, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven declared that my Europe does not build walls, welcoming refugees.

I am the one who accepted this. In other words, the Social Democrats are the cause of the immigration policy that has turned Sweden into a paradise for gangs. Many people evaluate the choices made by the Swedish government and the Swedish citizens at this time as naive. There are also experts who strongly warn that if things continue this way, Sweden may lose its function as a nation. With extreme predictions emerging, the Sweden Democrats are making radical claims that refugees who cannot assimilate should be expelled from Sweden. In a contribution to the daily newspaper Expressen on October 31, 2023, the leader of the Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Åkesson, stated that refugees from Somalia, Syria, and Afghanistan have a high rate of committing crimes and are not integrating into Swedish society. Those who live in Sweden but do not speak Swedish and only commit crimes are damaging the reputation of Swedish citizenship.

He stated that citizenship should be revoked and individuals should be deported, and that we must also fight against Islam. Looking at the current situation in Sweden, one might think this is not an extreme statement; however, we have already reached the second generation, and the suggestion to deport 20% of the population is indeed an extreme remark. It is not feasible, and such statements could lead to further division within Sweden. Currently, the Swedish government has announced plans to increase the judicial system budget by about 300 million euros by 2025, and they are also strengthening punishments for juvenile offenders. Additionally, they are increasing the number of surveillance cameras and introducing legislation to seize criminal profits, while cooperating with countries like Denmark to combat cross-border crime. However, given the long-standing gang issues, the Minister of Justice estimates that it will take at least 10 years to resolve the gang problem. Of course,

It's uncertain whether this will be anticipated and resolved. Immigrant and refugee youth in Sweden who do not integrate into Swedish society are likely to experience invisible discrimination, which increases the chances of them turning to crime again. Looking at examples from other European countries and soon the Vietnamese gangs in Japan, it seems almost idealistic to think that when immigrant foreign workers settle in a country, they will perfectly blend in and create a society without discrimination. This concludes our discussion on Sweden, which has become a haven for gangsters.

복지천국에서 갱들의 천국이 된 스웨덴의 몰락

기본적인 채널의 주제는 지식입니다
주 업로드는 인물 역사 경제(기업과 브랜드) 재미있는 지식  그리고 위 3개 그리고 이야기에 대한 뒷이야기를 모아놓은 몰랐던 사실편이며
주제를 하나 정해서 다큐같이 시리즈를 만들기도 합니다
(현재는 종교 조폭 스페셜이 만들어지고 있습니다) 

당신이 몰랐던 이야기

Sweden's Shift from Welfare Paradise to Gangster Haven

Sweden, once known for its high welfare system and community-focused Nordic model, has seen a significant rise in gang-related crime and gun violence in recent years.

The country's high immigrant population, making up nearly 20% of its total population, has contributed to the increase in organized crime and youth gangs.

In response to the escalating violence, the Swedish government has mobilized the military to combat crime, with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledging the unprecedented severity of the situation.

Sweden's Immigrant Influx: A Historical Overview

Sweden's increase in immigrants began in the 1950s, driven by post-World War II economic growth and a strong welfare system.

The country's stable economy in the late 1960s led to a higher demand for labor, attracting workers from Europe.

However, as the economic expansion slowed, Sweden regulated labor immigration, leading to a chaotic immigration policy and a surge of refugees in the 1990s, which ultimately resulted in social issues and increased anti-immigration sentiment.

Sweden has struggled with balancing national identity, social integration, and security, particularly during the 2015 migrant crisis when over 163,000 refugees sought asylum.

The government's housing program aimed at providing affordable units led to a concentration of immigrants in certain neighborhoods, exacerbating social separation.

The failure of social integration has resulted in lasting issues for the second-generation immigrant youth, including academic struggles, economic difficulties, and increased involvement in criminal organizations.

Youth Gangs and Crime Organizations in Sweden

Youth gangs, particularly those recruiting children as young as 13, are a significant issue in Sweden, with members involved in serious criminal activities like contract killings.

These gangs provide a sense of belonging and support for the youths, who are driven by economic hardships and social disconnection.

Crime organizations in Sweden have infiltrated legitimate businesses, using profits to expand their influence and resorting to illegal methods to eliminate competition, ultimately blurring the line between criminal and legitimate operations.

Sweden's Immigration Policy and Gang Crisis

The Social Democrats are blamed for Sweden's immigration policy, which has led to a rise in gang-related crime.

The Sweden Democrats are making radical claims to expel non-assimilating refugees, citing their high crime rates and lack of integration.

The Swedish government is increasing the judicial system budget and strengthening punishments to combat the gang problem, but experts warn that it may take at least 10 years to resolve the issue.