Seven Eleven Presents Encouragement Fund to Store Owner Who Saved Woman in Crime Danger

Store Owner Kim Gyubeom of Yeoksam Town Saves Woman Who Asked for Help at Dawn
Recognized for Convenience Store's Role as a Social Safety Net

Kim Kyubeom, owner of Yeoksam Town branch (left), is taking a commemorative photo with Lee Jeonghan, head of 7-Eleven Gangnam branch, after presenting a certificate of appreciation.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] Convenience store chain 7-Eleven announced on the 18th that it presented a certificate of appreciation and a monetary reward to a store owner who saved a woman who entered the store to escape a crime threat during the early morning hours.

The recipient of the certificate of appreciation is Kim Gyu-beom, the store owner of 7-Eleven Yeoksam Town branch. On the early morning of the 9th, a foreign woman ran barefoot into the 7-Eleven Yeoksam Town store crying and asking for help. At that time, the woman hurriedly entered the convenience store to escape what was presumed to be sexual harassment. Kim, who was working the early morning shift, actively protected the woman’s safety, reported the incident to the police, and contributed to the arrest of the suspect through prompt cooperation with the investigation.

7-Eleven recognized Kim Gyu-beom’s efforts in fulfilling the role of convenience stores as a safety net for the local community and presented him with a certificate of appreciation and a monetary reward. Furthermore, this case will be shared with all employees and frontline stores as an example of civic spirit that prioritizes safety and life above all else. Through sharing this case, 7-Eleven expects to raise awareness and empathy among store owners and workers nationwide, encouraging active reporting in similar situations and thereby helping to reduce related harm.

Meanwhile, 7-Eleven is leading public interest activities to ensure the safety of socially vulnerable groups in daily life by utilizing its nationwide infrastructure. To create a safer environment for women vulnerable to crime, 7-Eleven operates Women’s Safety Keeper Houses, and in November of last year, over 8,100 franchise stores nationwide applied to participate in the ‘Child Safety Keeper House’ program. Additionally, as part of the ‘Dodam Dodam’ campaign, 7-Eleven operates products featuring child abuse prevention messages to promote prevention and reporting of child abuse.