Seocho-gu, Gangnam Station Safety Zone Upgrade & Women's Safety Measures

To Strengthen Gangnam Station Safety Zone, Safety Facilities Improved Including Emergency Safety Bells, Police Spots, High-Intensity Lighting, High-Performance CCTV, and Gender-Separated Private Restroom Support... Operation of Women’s Safety Measures Such as ‘Seoripul Bodyguard,’ Seocho Women’s Safe Return Scout ‘Banditbul-i,’ and ‘Seocho Molka Security Guard’ to Do Best in Preventing Women’s Crime

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The “2016 Gangnam Station restroom murder case,” which shocked the entire nation, marks its 5th anniversary on May 17. It was a tragic incident where a woman in her early 20s was brutally murdered in a karaoke room’s shared restroom near Gangnam Station.

Since then, Seocho-gu (District Mayor Eunhee Jo) has continuously enhanced safety facilities to strengthen the Gangnam Station Safety Zone, including installing emergency safety bells, Police Spots, go-bo lighting, high-performance CCTVs, and supporting the separation of men’s and women’s restrooms in privately opened public restrooms, striving to minimize crime blind spots.

Additionally, the district operates various women’s safety measures to prevent crimes against women, such as the “Seoripul Bodyguard,” “Seocho Molka (illegal filming) Security Guard,” and “Seocho Women’s Safe Return Scout Firefly.”

First, the “Seoripul Bodyguard” project supports single-woman households by installing home security systems, digital videophones, double-lock safety hooks on front doors, and CCTV at apartment entrances, creating a secure living environment.

The “Seocho Women’s Safe Return Scout Firefly” is a program that assists women in returning home safely late at night. Seocho-gu deploys the largest number of personnel (56 people) among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts, providing a more thorough and safer service.

Since its launch in August 2018, the “Seocho Molka Security Guard” project has significantly reduced anxiety caused by illegal filming, earning high satisfaction from residents. Last year, the introduction of video frequency detection equipment complemented areas that infrared and electromagnetic wave detectors could not recognize, enabling more meticulous inspections.

Meanwhile, this year, to protect residents safely from various crimes, the district plans to install solar safety lights in narrow alleys where streetlight installation is difficult.

Also, on May 6, Seocho Police Station and the district conducted a “Safe Restroom Use Campaign.” Although digital door locks have become common in restrooms of multi-use facilities, they can still be vulnerable to intrusion crimes. The campaign aims to request facility managers to implement stronger safety management.

In joint patrols by the district and police, two-person teams visited each establishment, recommending periodic changes to digital door lock passwords, avoiding displaying restroom passwords in places visible to everyone, and setting different passwords for men’s and women’s restrooms to raise awareness of safety management.

District Mayor Eunhee Jo stated, “We will minimize crime blind spots and create an environment where people can walk safely even in the dark night,” adding, “We will continue to prioritize the safety of residents and make Seocho a place where everyone can live with peace of mind and comfort.”