"5,700 Applications in a Single Day After Violent Crime"... What Is Seoul's 'Ansimhelpme'?

Portable Emergency Bell for Women and Youth Introduced in 2024

Pressing the Button Triggers an Alarm and Alerts the CCTV Control Center

Police Dispatched When Needed... Seamless Response System

#. In the early morning of April 15, a woman in her 30s, sensing that a man was following her on her way home, pressed the "Ansimhelpme" portable emergency bell to immediately report the incident to the control center. While speaking with the caller, the center operator confirmed her location and guided her to move toward an area covered by CCTV until the police arrived at the scene. As a result, the police responded and ensured her safe return home.

As public anxiety has increased due to recent violent crimes, the portable emergency bell "Ansimhelpme," introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2024, is receiving significant attention.

With cumulative distribution exceeding 110,000 units, "Ansimhelpme" is a portable emergency bell that enables urgent reporting and is supplied at a rate of about 50,000 units annually, primarily targeting women, youth, single-person households, the elderly, and people with disabilities—groups considered socially vulnerable in terms of safety.

When the button is pressed, a warning alarm sounds, and the device automatically reports to the CCTV control center and, if necessary, can dispatch the police. This systematic safety assurance system is credited with alleviating citizens' anxiety.

While the daily average number of applications this year was 152, the figure suddenly surged to 5,718 on one day alone—May 7—following a recent violent crime. This demonstrates that citizens are actively using "Ansimhelpme" for their personal safety.

Shaped as a keyring, "Ansimhelpme" can be linked to the "Seoul Ansim-i" application. When a user feels threatened and presses the button, a 100db warning alarm sounds, and their location and emergency situation are transmitted in real time to up to five designated guardians as well as the local CCTV control center. In urgent situations, pressing the button briefly more than four times enables a silent alert function.

Once a report is received, the relevant local control officer begins monitoring the scene immediately, and the police can be dispatched instantly if necessary, ensuring a seamless response system.

The number of reports made using "Ansimhelpme" was 624 in 2024 and 693 in 2025, and as of May 7 this year, 858 cases have already been reported. Of these, police were dispatched on approximately 20 occasions.

"Ansimhelpme" is provided free of charge to vulnerable groups such as youth (age 24 and under), single-person households, the elderly, and women, in accordance with the "Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Support for Crime Victim Prevention for the Socially Vulnerable." Other citizens can obtain the device for 7,000 won.

Applications can be submitted at any time via the Seoul Metropolitan Government website or the Seoul Ansim-i app. Linking with the Seoul Ansim-i app is required to use the police dispatch service.

Ma Chae-sook, Director of the Women and Family Policy Office of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "We will continue to discover and expand practical safety policies that citizens can truly feel, to make Seoul a city where everyone can live with peace of mind."