Introduction of Unmanned Security Systems Creates Gaps in Campus Security Amid Security Staff Shortages

Four Security Personnel on Duty at Incident Time
Security Post 5 Minutes from Scene, but Could Not Grasp Situation
Nearby Campus Faces Same Situation

Inha University Campus View

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Seohee Lee] Interest in campus security management is increasing following the ‘Inha University Sexual Assault Death Incident’ that occurred on the 15th. At the time of the incident, there were only four nighttime security personnel on campus, and despite their proximity to the scene, they failed to detect the incident until the police arrived. As sexual crimes on campus have been occurring one after another recently, concerns have been raised that schools, which should be the safest places, are defenseless against sexual crimes.

◆ Security post located 5 minutes away, but failed to grasp the situation

On the afternoon of the 15th, a police line was installed in the stairwell of a building near the location where Mr. A was found on the Inha University campus in Michuhol-gu, Incheon.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to a summary of statements from Inha University officials by Asia Economy, there was a control room staffed by campus security personnel within a 5-minute walking distance from the scene of the incident. Inha University’s nighttime security team consists of four members who monitor CCTV installed across the campus from control rooms located at four points: the main building, main gate, back gate, and library. They also conduct regular patrols to check for any abnormal signals.

On the 15th, when the incident occurred, security personnel were present in the control room, but they did not detect the incident at all until a passerby reported it and the police arrived. The nearest security post to the incident site, located between Inha University’s Building No. 2 and the 60th Anniversary Memorial Building, was the ‘Inha University Back Gate,’ approximately 300 meters away, just a 5-minute walk.

◆ Nearby universities face similar issues... ‘Introduction of unmanned security, reduction of security personnel’

Students are bustling back and forth on the Keimyung University campus.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The ‘gap’ in the security network was largely due to chronic manpower shortages. Currently, Inha University entrusts building security to a professional security company’s unmanned security system, with a total of 13 security personnel conducting three shifts of day and night patrols. Although the number varies by time, each team has no more than four members.

This is a very insufficient number considering the size of Inha University’s Yonghyeon Campus, which covers approximately 92,000 pyeong (about 304,000 square meters). Simply put, each security staff member is responsible for patrolling an area exceeding 20,000 pyeong. An Inha University official added, “We cannot say the security personnel are sufficient. It is very inadequate to patrol a campus spanning 100,000 pyeong.”

Upon investigation, the situation at nearby universities was not much different. Another university, A University, located in Incheon, drastically reduced its security personnel after introducing a professional security company’s unmanned security system, leaving only 11 security staff in total. A University’s campus area reaches 140,000 pyeong. After 11 p.m., building entrances on campus are automatically controlled by the security system, but unless clear abnormal signals such as forced door openings are detected, there are no personnel patrolling until the next morning.

Regarding this, A University stated, “The 11 security personnel take turns monitoring CCTV. Emergency dispatch only occurs if abnormal signals such as doors opening after 11 p.m. are detected.”

The situation is similar at major universities in Seoul. A representative from B University in Seoul said about their campus security system, “We use an integrated security system from a professional security company. There are no separate patrol personnel, but security guards monitor CCTV and respond if abnormal signs such as unnecessary door openings are detected.”

◆ Continuous sexual crimes on campus... “Campus is no longer a safe zone”

Sexual crimes on campus have been steadily increasing. According to data submitted by the Ministry of Education to People Power Party lawmaker Chanmin Jeong on the ‘Status of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence in Universities Nationwide,’ the number of sexual harassment and sexual violence cases in universities nationwide rose from 182 in 2016 to 346 in 2019, nearly doubling in three years.

Number of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Cases on University Campuses [Data provided by Jeong Chan-min, Office of the People Power Party]

This is attributed to the lowering age of media users and the diversification of information acquisition channels, which have significantly lowered the age of sexual crime perpetrators. According to the ‘Crime Analysis’ prepared by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office last year, people in their 20s accounted for 29.6% of all sexual offenders, meaning one out of three sexual offenders was in their 20s.

Currently enrolled university students also do not feel safe on campus. Kim Hayun (24), attending a women’s university in Seoul, said, “One day, while studying late at the club room, I went out to use the restroom and was startled to see a man who looked to be in his mid-30s standing there.” She added, “There are hardly any patrols late at night, so sometimes I feel that even if something happens inside the building, no one would know.”

Choi Junggi (26), attending a university in Incheon, also said, “The campus is very large, but I don’t think every corner is well protected. The back path of the library and the walking trail to the dormitory are pitch dark after 6 p.m. I have never seen anyone patrolling there.”

There is also an opinion that this incident should be approached as a general sexual crime rather than a campus sexual crime. Oh Yunseong, a professor of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, said, “It is true that the Inha University incident occurred on campus, but whether it happened inside or outside the campus is not the important issue. The important thing is that the age of sexual crime perpetrators is continuously decreasing, but preventive education remains limited to formal sex education.”

Professor Oh continued, “The sex education currently implemented in elementary, middle, and high schools has no effect in preventing sexual crimes. We need to train professional educators who can provide practical sexual crime prevention education and develop more realistic alternatives.”

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