"Deaths from Traffic Accidents and Suicide Decrease, Infectious Disease Deaths Up 31%"... Nationwide Safety Accident Deaths Down 0.45%

Ministry of the Interior and Safety Announces Nationwide Regional Safety Index... Traffic Accidents Down 9%, Suicides Down 4%
Living Safety Up 2%, Fire Deaths Up 26%, Infectious Disease Deaths Up 31%

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The number of deaths from safety accidents in local governments nationwide decreased by 0.45% over one year, and the number of deaths in areas such as traffic accidents, crime, and suicide decreased by 911.

On the 9th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced these results through the 2021 Regional Safety Index, which indicates the safety level of local governments nationwide in six fields: traffic accidents, fires, crime, daily safety, suicide, and infectious diseases, based on 2020 statistics. The number of deaths in the regional safety index fields decreased by 105, from 23,094 the previous year to 22,989.

While deaths from traffic accidents decreased by 9.1%, the reduction in pedestrian deaths was as high as 15.9%. The main reasons for the decrease are interpreted as the implementation of people-centered Safe Speed 5030 policies, including the installation of traffic enforcement CCTV. In the crime sector, deaths caused by the five major crimes decreased by 5.4% compared to the previous year, and the number of incidents also decreased by 6.5%, from 494,191 to 462,290. Suicide, recognized as a chronic problem, also decreased by 4.4% compared to the previous year, which is believed to be due to an average 9.4% decrease in suicide rates across all age groups over 35 years old.

Meanwhile, deaths in the fields of fire, daily safety, and infectious diseases increased by 806, from 5,744 to 6,550. Deaths in the fire sector increased by 26.3% (73 people) compared to the previous year, mainly due to an increase in large fires (from 11 to 62) and carelessness such as cigarette butts, cooking food, and garbage incineration (from 65 to 77), according to the investigation.

Analyzing the safety index grades of 17 metropolitan local governments, Gyeonggi achieved first grade in traffic accidents, fires, daily safety, and suicide; Seoul in traffic accidents, fires, and daily safety; Sejong in crime, suicide, and infectious diseases; Gyeongbuk in crime; and Gyeongnam in infectious diseases.

Daejeon improved by an average of 1 to 2 grades in four fields: traffic, fire, daily safety, and infectious diseases, and Gwangju improved by three grades (from 5 to 2) in the fire sector. Among basic local governments, urban areas such as Guri in Gyeonggi and Gyeryong in Chungnam achieved first grade in four fields each, while Anyang, Gwacheon, and Uiwang in Gyeonggi achieved first grade in three fields each.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated that when compared with 30 OECD countries (out of 38) with available statistical data, overall safety has slightly improved (ranked 22nd in 2014 → 19th in 2017). The results calculated this year, compared with recent OECD statistics (2019) from 11 countries, estimate a rank of about 5th. In particular, it was evaluated that the gap with the OECD average is narrowing in the fields of traffic accidents and infectious diseases (tuberculosis + AIDS), and the ranking has improved significantly.

Based on the results of this regional safety index, the Ministry plans to continuously improve safety levels by providing fire safety grants of 3% to regions with high grade improvement compared to the previous year and 2% to regions needing improvement. For local governments with low index grades, capacity-building education and active support for safety diagnosis (consulting) to improve safety levels will be provided to help them effectively utilize the index system. When the regional safety index is disclosed next year, safety awareness indicators will be additionally reflected along with safety levels.

Lee Seung-woo, Director of the Disaster Safety Management Headquarters, said, “Despite difficulties such as COVID-19, the decrease of 105 deaths from safety accidents compared to the previous year is believed to be the result of government policies to raise safety awareness, efforts by local governments, and active participation by the public,” adding, “To create a safer community, more active interest and efforts at both the government and local government levels are necessary.”