Seoul Police Take to Streets to Identify Crime-Prone Areas

SEOUL — At 7 p.m. on the 27th, in front of a large supermarket in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, bustling with citizens heading home from work, officers from Seoul Seoboo Police Station took to the streets to communicate directly with residents.

The occasion was a crime prevention campaign called "Basic Order Re-Design," organized by a civilian-government-police consultative body officially launched on the 24th. The initiative aims to identify disorder factors that citizens experience firsthand, rather than limiting discussions to conference rooms.

Through the campaign, police listened to security needs from civic groups and residents while inspecting environmental maintenance conditions around nearby Bulgwangcheon Stream. About 30 participants joined, including Seoboo Station officers, voluntary crime prevention patrol members, Eunpyeong-gu Office officials from the Spatial Planning and Safety Management divisions, and civic organization representatives. Citizens were observed approaching officers to ask questions throughout the event.

"It is very meaningful that police can participate in this project created together with local residents," said Lee A-young, Chief of Seoboo Police Station.

Basic Order Re-Design is a security policy promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Its core objective is to fundamentally improve crime-vulnerable environments.

Seoboo Station plans to improve conditions in five key areas within its jurisdiction through this project. For the Bulgwangcheon area, where illegal dumping reports have been frequent, 10 security lights and one CCTV camera will be installed. Trash bins will be placed around Eungam Five-Way Intersection to address disorder caused by intoxicated individuals engaging in smoking and disturbances. Maebawi Park in Eungam Market, where juvenile delinquency complaints were concentrated, will receive nighttime lighting and public restrooms. Yeokmal Park will get five additional CCTVs, two safety mirrors, and 100 road reflectors.

Police plan to continue improvement efforts alongside these measures. Seoboo Station is also working to designate all 34 children's parks in Eunpyeong-gu as alcohol-free zones, aiming to revise relevant ordinances within the year through cooperation with local government.

"Until now, when drinking reports came in from children's playgrounds, we could only disperse the crowd," a Seoboo Station official explained. "If the revision creates a legal basis for penalties, it will have effective preventive results."

Participants in the roughly 30-minute campaign unanimously said it was meaningful to directly participate in improving local security.

Kim Su-min, 57, a member of the consultative body, said, "I feel proud and happy that I can do something for young people. Working in partnership with the police station also makes it easier to spread awareness."

A local resident surnamed Jang, 69, said, "I didn't know such a project existed. It was impressive to see police directly listening to residents' opinions and trying to communicate."