Seongbuk-gu Crisis Family Integrated Support Center's Vigorous Efforts for Zero Domestic Violence Gain Attention

Collaboration between Seongbuk District Office and Seongbuk Police Station: Counseling and Information Provided to 112 Domestic Violence Reported Households, Referral to Professional Counseling Agencies...Changing the Perception of Domestic Violence from a Private Issue to a Social Problem

Seongbuk-gu Crisis Family Integrated Support Center Meeting

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] On the morning of March 15th at 7 a.m., an urgent phone call came into the 112 emergency call center. An elderly female caller reported that she had been assaulted by her son, who lives with her, and requested the police to quickly come to her home. The responding police officers took the son into custody on-site for domestic assault.

That day, at Seongbuk District Office, officials from the Seongbuk District Crisis Family Integrated Support Center and the Abuse Prevention Officer (APO) from Jongam Police Station held a meeting to discuss support measures for families reporting domestic violence, based on the above case.

At the meeting, case manager Kim*young recognized the names of the familiar reporter and perpetrator and identified the household as that of Mr. Kim** (84), an elderly person with dementia living with his son who has a mental illness.

The police, lacking information about the son's illness, had booked him as the perpetrator of domestic assault and were preparing for prosecution, while it was clear that a care gap was emerging due to the worsening dementia symptoms of Mr. Kim**. The Seongbuk District Crisis Family Integrated Support Center quickly gathered public and private sector practitioners to explore support measures for the Kim** household.

Participants included related organizations such as the District Office Hope Welfare Support Team, Jongam Police Station, Community Center, Mental Health Welfare Center, Home Welfare Center, Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, and Dementia Support Center.

Following meetings held from March through June, it was decided to utilize long-term care services from the local Home Welfare Center, where care workers would visit the home to provide meals and assistance necessary for daily living, thereby addressing the care gap for Mr. Kim**.

The Dementia Support Center agreed to conduct continuous monitoring, including medication management. The Welfare Center linked customized elderly care services to ensure ongoing care within the community.

The Mental Health Welfare Center emphasized to the Abuse Prevention Officer that the victim Mr. Kim**’s son, who was already under management, had no prior violent tendencies, helping to foster understanding of the nature of his illness. As a result of requesting treatment rather than punishment for the son, the police made efforts to have him admitted to a hospital to focus on treatment.

An official from the Seongbuk District Crisis Family Integrated Support Center stated, “The case of the Kim** household clearly demonstrates the need for early detection and intervention in crisis families,” adding, “We are changing the perception of domestic violence from a private issue to a societal problem that must be solved collectively, and by establishing an integrated safety net within the community, we are working to eliminate domestic violence.”

The ‘Seongbuk District Crisis Family Integrated Support Center’ was established in November last year to enable early intervention and detection of families at risk of violence within the community. In collaboration with the Seongbuk District Office and police station, it provides counseling, information, and connections to specialized counseling agencies for families reporting domestic violence through 112 calls. It also plays a key role in providing tailored services by linking public and private services and conducting joint monitoring visits to prevent recurrence.

Seungro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk District, stated, “Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, domestic violence incidents have been increasing,” and added, “Seongbuk District is maintaining a strong collaborative system centered on the Crisis Family Integrated Support Center, working closely with the district office, police station, and related agencies to provide customized services to families reporting domestic violence and focusing on preventing recurrence.”

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