Police Promote Comprehensive Security Activities for Seol Holiday... All Units Fully Respond

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] The police will carry out special security activities to prevent various crimes and accidents during the Lunar New Year holiday (21st to 24th). The National Police Agency announced on the 16th that it is promoting a "Comprehensive Security Activity for the Lunar New Year Holiday," involving all departments under the supervision of the Life Safety Bureau until the 24th.

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Migeun-dong, National Police Agency Lobby Photo by Yonhap News

The police plan to strictly enforce laws and manage safety, especially regarding crimes targeting socially vulnerable groups such as domestic violence and stalking, as well as livelihood-related crimes like phone financial fraud. To this end, the police will actively implement emergency and provisional measures to block perpetrators' access and protect victims. A National Police Agency official said, "Due to the nature of relational crimes, they are rarely exposed," and urged, "If you become aware of such crimes around you, please report them actively."

Additionally, since phone financial fraud is expected to surge during the holiday season, the police will focus on initial response and victim prevention activities. The National Police Agency stated, "We are posting and sharing videos on YouTube and social networking services (SNS) to prevent phone financial fraud," and requested, "Please exercise special caution to prevent phishing crimes, such as not answering calls from suspicious numbers."

They will also ensure thorough safety management in situations involving large crowds. By establishing a joint response system with local governments and fire departments, they will identify locations expected to have large gatherings in advance and urge facility owners to strengthen their own preparations. Furthermore, police forces such as mobile units will be pre-positioned at locations with safety concerns. During the holiday period, all police officers will maintain an emergency contact system, and in case of urgent reports, a full-scale response will be maintained regardless of the responsible department or function.

Preventive activities will be strengthened at key facilities such as financial institutions and jewelry stores. In addition, patrol efforts will be concentrated in vulnerable areas such as neighborhoods with many single-person households and traditional markets, and crime prevention education will be provided as part of preventive measures. For households at risk of repeated domestic violence and ongoing child abuse investigations, comprehensive monitoring will be conducted to assess the risk of recurrence. In this process, the need for protection and support will be actively reviewed considering past records.

The police will also manage traffic, anticipating severe congestion during the holiday period. They will focus on managing congested areas such as large discount stores, traditional markets, and parks and cemeteries, and secure smooth traffic flow on highways and connected national roads for outbound and return trips. Particularly, they plan to conduct intensive crackdowns on risky behaviors such as speeding and reckless driving using undercover patrol cars, helicopters, and drones. A National Police Agency official stated, "We will concentrate all police capabilities during the Lunar New Year holiday to ensure that the public can have a peaceful and safe holiday, and we will do our best."