Gangbuk-gu 'Silver Security Guards' Prevent Illegal Street Vendors

Guidance on Handling False and Exaggerated Advertising Targeting Seniors and Data Collection... Preventive Activities Until December This Year... Installation of 'Tteotdabang Reporting Desk' at Welfare Facilities and Senior-Related Organizations

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) is resuming the activities of Silver Guardians to prevent damages caused by illegal activities targeting the elderly at so-called "Tteotdabang" sites.

The promotional centers known as "Tteotdabang" gather elderly people to experience medical devices and offer free gifts, while misleading them by promoting health supplements as cure-alls to gain unfair profits.

Silver Guardians focus on promotional activities and information gathering to prevent damages from false and exaggerated advertisements by visiting elderly welfare facilities. They will also distribute promotional materials containing information on how to distinguish between health supplements and medicines, and remedies when purchasing.

Last year, four Silver Guardians visited more than 86 elderly welfare facilities for 45 days, three days each month. This year, the specific visiting schedule will be set in accordance with the phased reopening of public facilities starting this month, following the transition to daily quarantine measures.

The district plans to focus on preventing damages in advance by providing detailed guidance on consumer behavior and reporting procedures. A "Tteotdabang Reporting Center" has also been established in local welfare facilities and elderly organizations to maintain a prompt reporting system for illegal activities. Information collected by the Guardians and reports received through the center will be used for administrative guidance or crackdowns.

Park Kyum-soo, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, stated, "We expect that operating Silver Guardians will help prevent damages caused by false and exaggerated advertisements. The best way is for the elderly not to participate in Tteotdabang from the start, but if they inevitably attend, active reporting and tips are necessary," he urged.

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