Decrease in 'Major Crime Reports and Five Major Crimes' During Lunar New Year Holiday in Gwangju Area

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] It has been revealed that important crime reports, traffic accidents, and the five major crimes decreased during the Lunar New Year holiday in the Gwangju area.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency on the 15th, the total reports for nine types of crimes including murder, robbery, assault, theft, sexual violence, kidnapping and confinement, domestic violence, child abuse, and dating crimes increased by 2.5% compared to last year's Lunar New Year (4,896 cases), but crime reports decreased by 12%.

Reports of important crimes also decreased by 16.8%, from 149 cases last year to 124 cases this year, and domestic violence cases dropped by 25.5%, from 94 cases last year to 70 cases this year.

The five major crimes?murder, robbery, rape/assault, theft, and violence?decreased by 50%, from 74 cases last Lunar New Year to 37 cases this year.

Traffic accidents also decreased by 19.5% compared to last year's 47 cases, with 38 cases occurring this year, and the number of injured dropped by 48%, from 100 to 52. However, while there were no fatalities last year, two deaths occurred this year.

On the other hand, drunk driving crackdowns actually increased. Last year, 36 cases were detected (28 license cancellations and 8 suspensions), but this year, 54 people were caught?54 cancellations and 18 suspensions.

Meanwhile, the Gwangju police focused on crime prevention activities during this year's Lunar New Year holiday, including crime prevention diagnostics for traditional robbery and theft crimes, as well as preventing domestic violence crimes and traffic accidents expected to increase during the holiday period.

From the 1st to the 14th, all units participated in comprehensive security activities. In particular, this Lunar New Year, a rapid response team (total of 119 members) was operated to support quarantine activities related to COVID-19.

Before the holiday, crime prevention inspections and activities were conducted targeting cash-handling businesses vulnerable to security breaches, such as convenience stores and jewelry stores (1,246 locations).

Convenience stores that are vulnerable in terms of security facilities or operated by a single woman during late night and early morning hours were designated as priority management stores (a total of 158 locations) and were intensively patrolled every two hours per store from midnight to 6 a.m. during vulnerable times.

To prevent jewelry store thefts, recent theft cases and prevention methods were provided, and promotional activities such as recommending reinforcement of security facilities were carried out.

Additionally, since the Lunar New Year is a period of active cash withdrawals such as New Year's money, phone financial fraud prevention campaigns were conducted targeting bank tellers and elderly people, and police forces were deployed during business hours at three financial institutions open during the holiday to prevent crimes targeting cash.

Traffic police forces were also mobilized with an average of 151 personnel and 24 pieces of equipment per day.

Traffic conditions were smoothly managed without serious congestion through phased intensive management and flexible traffic control according to major intersections. Due to the complete closure of national and municipal cemeteries during the Lunar New Year holiday to prevent the spread of COVID-19, vehicle detours were implemented to prepare for unexpected traffic situations.

A Gwangju Police Agency official said, “We will continue crime prevention and safe traffic management even after the Lunar New Year holiday,” and added, “We will do our best to help citizens return to peaceful daily lives.”

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