Gimhae City Prepares for Final On-Site Inspection for 'International Safe City' Certification

Next Month on the 6th-7th at 5 Locations Including City Hall
Evaluation in 6 Areas Including Traffic Safety and Disaster

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Son Tae-seok] Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province, is making thorough final preparations ahead of the main on-site inspection that will determine its certification as an 'International Safe City.'

The city announced on the 28th that the main on-site inspection for the International Safe City certification will be conducted over two days, on the 6th and 7th of next month, at five locations including City Hall, the Public Health Center, Gimhae East and West Fire Stations, and the 365 Safety Center.

To realize the mayor’s pledge of creating a 'Safe and Happy City Gimhae,' the city has been pursuing certification based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended model of an International Safe City.

The on-site inspection for international safe city certification will be held at five locations, including Gimhae City Hall, on the 6th and 7th of next month. The photo shows the first inspection held in August last year.

The city plans to actively improve and reflect the suggestions made during the first on-site inspection last August in preparation for this main inspection.

During the main inspection, six areas will be examined: fall and daily life safety, suicide prevention, traffic safety, violence and crime prevention, disaster, and industrial safety. The inspection will focus on seven certification criteria including △establishing a foundation for mutual cooperation among all sectors △implementing long-term and continuous programs for all ages, genders, environments, and situations △and safety promotion projects for high-risk groups.

Since October 2016, the city has laid the institutional foundation for the safe city project by diagnosing regional safety and enacting ordinances. It has operated the Safe City Committee and Working Committee, carrying out 145 safety promotion projects across six areas.

Mayor Heo Seong-gon stated, "The ultimate goal of the International Safe City project is to create a city where citizens can live safely and happily," adding, "We hope to receive certification that will serve as the cornerstone for a city where all members of the local community actively strive for safety."

The International Safe City certification is based on the 1989 Stockholm Declaration in Sweden and is accredited by the International Safe Cities Certification Center (ISCCC) located in Stockholm. Currently, 407 cities in 40 countries have been certified, and 19 cities in South Korea are listed as International Safe Cities.