Gwangyang-si Protects Safety-Vulnerable Groups with 'Naeson-an Ansim Bell Project'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Gwangyang City will start accepting online applications for the ‘Safe Bell in My Hand Project’ service through the Ansim Bell website from the 28th.

In response to the increasing crimes, with an average of about 550 cases involving women and youth over the past three years, the city will provide more than 7,000 Ansim Bells free of charge to eligible applicants to alleviate citizens’ anxiety.

Eligible applicants are residents registered in Gwangyang City, including women living alone, women business owners and workers, multicultural families, single-parent families, and out-of-school youth, prioritizing vulnerable safety groups.

The Ansim Bell is a service where, in an emergency, if the user presses the emergency bell button attached to their mobile phone for 3 to 5 seconds, their location information and surrounding sound are automatically sent to a registered guardian. If additionally set by the user, the information is also sent to the Gwangyang City CCTV Control Center, enabling police dispatch.

This project is carried out with a total budget of 300 million KRW, consisting of 150 million KRW in national funds secured after the ‘Self-Solution Team’?composed of 15 members from Gwangyang City Hall, Gwangyang Police Station, Gwangyang Autonomous Crime Prevention Association, Saemaeul Women’s Association, and the Healthy Family Multicultural Family Center?was selected in April for the ‘2020 Digital Regional Innovation Activation Contest’ hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, plus 150 million KRW from city funds.

The city plans to distribute the Ansim Bells to about 3,500 people on a first-come, first-served basis according to distribution criteria and the number allocated per eup, myeon, and dong, starting from the 28th through online applications. Interested citizens are advised to apply promptly.

Additionally, offline applications will be accepted during designated periods by eup, myeon, and dong, with the application period and locations to be announced on the Gwangyang City Safe Bell in My Hand website by the 8th of next month.

Bang Ki-tae, Director of the Planning and Budget Office, said, “This project, the first in the nation to link location information with the CCTV Control Center for real-time monitoring during emergencies, is expected to make our city a safer and more comfortable place to live.”