Expanded from 8 to all 16 neighborhoods this year, focused patrols in safety-vulnerable areas... Mapo-gu completes installation of 90 Ansim Screens for public restroom safety following last year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) is taking the lead in creating a safe environment by operating the ‘Mapo Citizen Patrol’ to protect residents from various incidents, accidents, and crime risks.

Since the 7th local government administration, the district has been operating the Mapo Citizen Patrol, conducting pilot operations in 8 neighborhoods until last year, and this year expanding the operation to all 16 neighborhoods in the area.

By focusing patrols on vulnerable areas such as parks, school surroundings, and residential back alleys where police presence is limited, the patrol supports residents’ safe return home and plays a vital role as neighborhood safety guardians through organic cooperation with local police stations in emergency situations.

In particular, recently, many cases have occurred where citizens using restaurants and clubs around Hongdae Cultural Park Street and Gyeongui Line Forest Park move en masse to nearby streets and parks after business hours past 10 p.m., violating social distancing rules. The patrol also conducts activities to promote basic quarantine rules such as wearing masks.

Additionally, the district continues this year to install safety screens at the bottom of restroom partitions to relieve users of public restrooms from concerns about illegal filming.

Last year, 39 units were installed in restrooms within community centers in 7 neighborhoods, and this year, a total of 51 safety screens were installed in public restrooms of the 7 neighborhoods not covered last year and in the Mapo-gu Office building.

The safety screen is a facility that blocks the lower space of restroom partitions on both sides to fundamentally prevent illegal filming crimes.

According to crime analysis statistics from the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, illegal filming crimes rank second in proportion among all sex crimes after forcible molestation. The district expects that the installation of these safety screens will greatly alleviate women’s anxiety and enhance the perceived safety.

Furthermore, the district continues to operate a citizen monitoring group against illegal filming and services for renting illegal filming detection devices, striving to minimize security blind spots in the area.

Yudonggyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Thanks to the dedication and efforts of the Mapo Citizen Patrol, who patrol every corner of the community daily to create a safe Mapo, many people can live with peace of mind. Mapo-gu will continue to do its best for the safe daily lives of residents together with the citizen patrol, the guardians of safety.”