Homeless and Intoxicated Individuals' Chronic Issues of Drinking, Loud Noise, and Smoking at Myeonmok Station Plaza to Be Improved... Increased Patrol Personnel and Police Posts Installed in Cooperation with Jungnang Police Station for Regular Patrols
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) has rolled up its sleeves to improve the environment of Myeonmok Station Plaza for local residents.
The district announced that although Myeonmok Station Plaza is a representative plaza near a subway station in Jungnang-gu and a complex cultural space, chronic issues such as drinking, loud noise, and smoking by homeless people and intoxicated individuals have caused continuous complaints from local residents. Since August, the district has been carrying out an environmental improvement project for Myeonmok Station Plaza.
To this end, a comprehensive plan was prepared through a process of gathering opinions, including on-site inspections and countermeasure meetings with external experts such as Seoul City Hall and psychiatrists, Jungnang Police Station, and local residents. Full efforts are being made to implement detailed measures in each field.
First, homeless street counselors are stationed at all times to conduct protective activities such as facility admission and hospital linkage. At the same time, in cooperation with the public health center, specialized counseling for alcohol addiction and mental health is being conducted to provide multidimensional guidance.
Additionally, to provide residents with a pleasant plaza, water cleaning is carried out once or twice daily, and in October, a campaign encouraging abstinence from alcohol and smoking was conducted targeting plaza users.
The district plans to designate the entire Myeonmok Station Plaza as a non-smoking area to protect residents' rights and interests and for long-term management. After a guidance period, smoking will be monitored and fines imposed starting January 2021.
In particular, the two-story police post scheduled for completion in December will have patrol personnel on duty at all times and operate a complaint reception office called the ‘Donghaeng Center’ along with a youth counseling room called the ‘Cheongtokbang.’ This is expected to strengthen security capabilities, improve accessibility to complaints, and comprehensively perform roles such as preventing and protecting against juvenile crime.
Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “We will actively resolve issues related to homeless and intoxicated individuals by reflecting diverse opinions from local residents and external experts and cooperating with Jungnang Police Station. We will do our best to make Myeonmok Station Plaza a safe and comfortable space for residents to rest.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, November 25, at 2:30 p.m., the district will sign an agreement with Jungnang Police Station in the planning situation room on the 4th floor of Jungnang-gu Office to establish a collaborative system and governance to solve the problems of homeless and intoxicated individuals at Myeonmok Station Plaza.
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