Gwanak-gu, Voluntary Preventive Activities by Foreigners' Autonomous Crime Prevention Team Amid COVID-19

Sinsa-dong Foreigners' Volunteer Crime Prevention Unit Leads Preventive Activities Against COVID-19 Spread... Strengthening Patrols Near Sinsa Market and Sindaebang Station, Visiting Chinese-Korean Households to Provide Infection Prevention Guidelines

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The autonomous crime prevention squad composed of foreigners in Sinsa-dong, Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is attracting attention for actively conducting preventive activities to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Established in 2015, the Sinsa-dong Foreign Autonomous Crime Prevention Squad has served as a communication channel between domestic and foreign residents, working closely with the local community center and Gwanak Police Station to help foreign residents establish basic public order.

Amid rising concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, the squad is now taking the lead in infection prevention activities to strengthen cooperation and restore trust between domestic and foreign residents.

They regularly patrol the Sinsa-dong area, where many foreigners reside, and have intensified promotional activities by distributing infection prevention leaflets written in foreign languages such as Chinese and English to foreigners living near Sinsa Market and Sindebang Station.

In particular, they visit Chinese-Korean households to check recent travel history to China and any suspicious symptoms, and if symptoms are suspected, they guide residents to contact the Gwanak-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and undergo screening tests according to procedures.

They also help foreigners who are not familiar with Korean understand basic preventive measures such as hand washing and wearing masks in an easy-to-understand manner, enabling them to practice virus prevention in daily life.

Additionally, the Sinsa-dong Foreign Autonomous Crime Prevention Squad plans to continue ongoing preventive activities in cooperation with the local community center by posting promotional posters and distributing leaflets at multi-use facilities such as traditional markets, lodging businesses, and large restaurants.

Jung, a 35-year-old resident of Sinsa-dong, said, “At a time when tensions between domestic and foreign residents are rising, the voluntary preventive activities of foreigners will greatly help restore trust among residents.”

On the 5th, Mayor Park Jun-hee visited the temporary screening clinic installed in the Residents' Autonomy Hall next to the Sinsa-dong Community Center to inspect the response situation to the novel coronavirus infection and encouraged health personnel and related officials.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “I thank the members of the Foreign Autonomous Crime Prevention Squad who are fulfilling their role as a communication channel between domestic and foreign residents and doing their best to prevent infection,” adding, “Until the situation is resolved, we will prioritize measures to prevent the novel coronavirus and concentrate all response capabilities to ensure the safety of residents.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.