"Warning: Drugs, Gambling, Proxy Payments"… Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Issues Winter Vacation School Bell Alert

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 9th that it has issued the 'Winter Vacation School Bell' to prevent youth crimes such as drug use and gambling through social networking services (SNS).

Winter Vacation School Bell Card News.
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

The School Bell is a system established in 2021 by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. It quickly disseminates awareness-raising information to students, teachers, and parents both online and offline when new types of youth-related crimes, such as emerging school violence, occur.

This School Bell focuses on ▲youth drug use ▲youth gambling ▲small high-interest illegal loans, and will be distributed to 1,403 elementary, middle, and high schools in Seoul and 780,000 parents.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the number of youth drug and gambling arrests last year surged by 3 to 5 times compared to 2022. The number of youths arrested for drugs increased by 389.6%, from 48 in 2022 to 235 last year, and those arrested for gambling rose by 208.3%, from 12 to 37 during the same period. In particular, secondary crimes such as involvement in school violence and acting as intermediaries for voice phishing to raise criminal funds have emerged as social issues.

The police explained that since most youth drug and gambling crimes occur in cyberspace and SNS activity increases during vacation periods, there is concern that related crimes may rise, which is why the School Bell was issued.

The police also warned about the increasing damage from 'small illegal loans under 100,000 won (so-called proxy deposits)' crimes targeting youths as primary victims through SNS.

Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said, "During the winter vacation period when youth SNS activity increases, there is a high possibility of a rise in youth drug use, gambling, and illegal loans, which have recently become problematic. We ask for active interest from citizens," adding, "We will strictly punish malicious crimes targeting youths, including arrest and investigation."

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