Malicious Complaints Harassing Public Officials, Beware!

Seoul Gangseo-gu Conducts 'Unusual Civil Complaint Response Drill' on 22nd... Emergency Response Task Force Formed for Rapid Action in Crisis Situations

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Preparedness for unusual civil complaints.

Gangseo-gu, Seoul has taken thorough precautions.

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) announced on the 22nd that it will conduct a 'Simulation Drill for Unusual Civil Complaint Occurrences' at the civil service office on the first floor of the district office.

The purpose is to appropriately respond to unusual civil complaints such as verbal abuse and assault that may occur during the complaint handling process, to prevent damage in advance, and to create a safe environment in the civil service office.

This simulation drill assumes a situation where a civil complainant verbally abuses and assaults the responsible public official.

To respond appropriately to emergency situations, the district organized dedicated teams?▲Response Team ▲Reporting Team ▲Rescue Team ▲Evacuation Team?based on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s 'Public Official Civil Complaint Response Manual.'

Each dedicated team performs its respective role according to the situation, such as responding to complainants, reporting when problems occur, restraining complainants, and protecting affected public officials.

The drill is conducted in cooperation with the Gangseo Police Station, and it also checks the proper operation of the emergency bell connected to the police station and the promptness of police dispatch.

Additionally, the drill includes practice on quickly protecting affected public officials in case of assault and evacuating other complainants to prevent further harm.

Meanwhile, the district strengthens complaint handling capabilities by conducting civil complaint response training annually along with the simulation drills, and operates expert psychological counseling services to protect employees who suffer psychological distress from special complaints.

A district official said, “Unusual civil complaints occur every year in the district, causing difficulties such as employees needing counseling,” and added, “Through simulation drills, we will learn how to wisely handle unusual civil complaints and create a safe environment for both complainants and public officials.”