Seongdong-gu Initiates Step-by-Step Crisis Management Response for High Population Density Areas

[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Establishes Four-Level Population Density Response System Using Big Data Analysis & Conducted Joint Public-Private Patrols in 7 Key Areas and 24-Hour Monitoring at CCTV Integrated Control Center on the 17th

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seongdong-gu (District Mayor Jeong Won-oh) announced that on the 11th, it established and implemented the 'Crisis Management Response Plan for Densely Populated Areas' to prevent safety accidents in events without organizers or in densely populated areas following the October 29 disaster.

This crisis management response plan for densely populated areas categorizes population density into four levels, focusing on mobilizing personnel and establishing cooperative systems with related organizations such as the police and fire departments according to each level.

At Level 1 (Normal / 3 people or fewer per ㎡), densely populated areas such as Seongsu-dong, Seoul Forest, and Hanyang University, extracted through big data, are monitored intensively 24 hours a day by the CCTV Integrated Control Center. When crowds reach Level 2 (Caution / 4 people per ㎡), the control center broadcasts caution messages via security CCTV and relays the situation to the district office and police, who then conduct joint patrols to assess the situation on site.

At Level 3 (Alert / 5 people per ㎡), real-time situation sharing is conducted through a hotline (disaster safety communication network) established among related organizations (district office-police-fire-control center). The district deploys prepared emergency personnel to the site to implement safety measures and maintain order.

Additionally, disaster text messages are sent at this stage, and civil defense disaster broadcasts are considered if necessary. At Level 4 (Severe / 6 or more people per ㎡), the district mobilizes additional emergency personnel, requests increased police and fire personnel, and plans to induce dispersal through disaster text messages and civil defense disaster broadcasts.

To respond swiftly to population density situations, the district enables monitoring of densely populated areas not only at the Integrated Control Center but also at the Disaster Safety Comprehensive Situation Room, and has organized emergency response personnel to be summoned according to density levels among all employees for urgent response.

Furthermore, considering that high-output civil defense disaster broadcasts are effective for spreading information and inducing dispersal within densely populated areas, the district plans to conduct disaster broadcasts using its own civil defense broadcasting equipment in emergencies.

After the college entrance exam ends on the 17th, to prepare for potential safety accidents caused by the influx of examinees, about 100 personnel from the district office, police, autonomous disaster prevention groups, and autonomous crime prevention squads conducted nighttime patrols in seven major densely populated areas, including Seongsu-dong and the Hanyang University food alley.

They also conducted crackdowns on illegal buildings, illegal advertisements, street obstructions, and unauthorized dumping, which will continue until the 20th. The district plans to immediately activate the emergency system during periods expected to have concentrated crowds, such as Christmas and the year-end and New Year holidays, prioritizing residents' safety.

To prepare for disaster safety, the district established Seoul's first smart CCTV video control system linked between the district office and fire station in 2018 to share disaster situations. In addition to existing radios, a hotline among related organizations (district-police-fire-military units) has been established through the disaster safety communication network (PS-LTE) to share disaster situations continuously and respond promptly.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Safety is directly related to life and cannot be emphasized enough,” adding, “We will continue to build a meticulous safety net system and do our best to ensure the safety of our residents.”