Gangbuk-gu Promotes Campaign to Eradicate Harmful Businesses Near Schools Targeting Youth

Among 180 Youth Harmful Businesses, About 93% (167) Closed... Joint Crackdown by Education Office, Police, and Resident-Led Campaign Activities Conducted

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) is promoting an eradication campaign until harmful businesses around schools completely disappear.

The campaign to eradicate harmful businesses around schools is a project that the district first initiated nationwide in 2015. It began with joint crackdowns involving related organizations such as the Office of Education and the police station.

In addition, residents voluntarily participated and supported the effort by conducting large-scale promotional activities. Currently, out of a total of 180 businesses, about 93%, or 167 locations, have closed down.

Harmful businesses around schools usually operate by registering as general restaurants but then transforming into entertainment bars. They are mainly concentrated around schools or residential areas where rent is low, threatening the safety of students' commuting routes.

Inspections of harmful businesses are conducted through joint crackdowns that break down the boundaries of duties among related organizations. Although somewhat flexible due to the spread of COVID-19, awareness-raising activities by the neighborhood promotion council composed of residents continue alongside inspection activities by the health center’s own inspection team.

Along with this, the eradication campaign involving real estate agencies and building owners continues unwaveringly. It is a collaborative effort with the local community.

The district visited the owners of buildings housing these businesses one by one to appeal for their participation. Among the businesses that closed, 41 cases were due to persuading the building owners to shut down.

In promoting the eradication campaign, the district also plans to focus on preventing the emergence of new harmful businesses. For the 13 stores still in operation, more effective crackdowns will be conducted. If closure is difficult due to reasons such as livelihood difficulties, conversion of business type will be encouraged.

Park Gyeom-su, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “The harmful business eradication campaign started with the goal of creating a desirable growth environment for youth and has achieved results through an organic cooperation system among public institutions and residents’ participation. We will make every effort so that the neighborhood is recognized as a place where harmful businesses targeting youth cannot take root.”

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