Feel Safe to Go Out... Gyeongnam Province Launches 'Safety Fence' Policy

On the 24th, Gyeongnam Province announced the ‘Safety Fence Project’ to protect residents from social violence such as random motive crimes, stalking, and school violence.

The Gyeongnam Autonomous Police Committee stated that it has established promotion tasks and response measures regarding social violence in collaboration with related organizations including city and county governments, the provincial police agency, and the provincial office of education.

On this day, the Autonomous Police Committee discussed comprehensive measures concerning ▲‘random motive crimes’ such as wielding weapons or assaulting unspecified multiple people ▲‘stalking crimes,’ which are repetitive and have a high risk of leading to serious crimes, making victim protection urgent ▲‘school violence,’ which causes severe post-traumatic stress disorder to victimized students.

To prevent damage from random motive crimes, the Autonomous Police Committee plans to expand about 630 crime prevention facilities such as CCTV, security lights, and emergency bells in parks, walking trails, perimeter paths, and urban areas.

By the end of this month, 16 mobile CCTVs, 4 security lights, and 18 emergency bells will be installed in six cities and counties including Changwon, and by 2026, 551 intelligent CCTVs will be newly installed in urban areas within the province, while 755 outdated cameras will be replaced.

They also plan to create women’s safety streets and safe alleys, support autonomous crime prevention squads and operate neighborhood safety patrol teams, organize and pilot safety councils in towns and townships, and expand crisis intervention teams for high-risk mental illness suspects.

Kim Hyuntae, Chairman of the Gyeongnam Provincial Autonomous Police Committee, is announcing a comprehensive plan to respond to social violence.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

As protection measures for stalking crime victims, the Autonomous Police Committee cited continuous implementation of victim personal protection projects, expansion of emergency housing support, and operation of victim treatment and recovery programs.

The target of the gender violence perpetrator recidivism prevention support project will be expanded beyond domestic violence to include perpetrators of stalking and dating violence, and in stalking cases, police officers and counselors will respond together to immediately separate victims and perpetrators.

To prevent and respond to school violence, they will operate a school violence prevention leading school project, conclude school violence responsibility contracts, and conduct student psychological stability support programs.

To mediate conflicts between victim and perpetrator students, support victim recovery, and encourage behavioral change in perpetrators, the provincial office of education will operate a school violence relationship recovery support group consisting of current and retired teachers, professional counselors, and community teachers, and promote the BomBom social service program.

They will also deploy School Police Officers (SPOs) and operate youth police schools to create schools free from school violence.

Additionally, the Autonomous Police Committee will conduct education to prevent random motive crimes targeting students on campus, provide outreach violence prevention education for general residents, offer drug misuse prevention education for youth, and support social welfare for drug addicts.

They will also support the comprehensive plan for educational activity recovery announced by the provincial office of education last September to restore teacher authority and protect educational activities.

By the end of this year, they plan to produce and distribute promotional videos for preventing random motive crimes, and next year, create and broadcast public service advertisements for sexual violence prevention.

Kim Hyuntae, chairman of the Autonomous Police Committee, said, “Going forward, Gyeongnam Province, the Autonomous Police Committee, the provincial police agency, and the provincial office of education will unite to prioritize the safety of residents, which is the top priority of Gyeongnam Province,” adding, “We will do our best to create an environment where residents can live with peace of mind.”

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