Traffic Accidents Decrease by 56.6% Compared to Previous Year
Monitoring Concerns Such as Domestic Violence
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] During this Lunar New Year holiday, Seoul maintained a peaceful atmosphere, with the number of 112 emergency calls and crime incidents significantly decreasing compared to previous years.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 24th that, as a result of implementing comprehensive security measures for the Lunar New Year from the 11th of this month, the average daily occurrence of the five major crimes, including murder and robbery, decreased by 12% compared to the previous year. Specifically, there were no cases of murder or robbery, while theft and assault recorded 26.25 and 30 cases respectively, down 0.35% and 9.8% from the same period last year (26.6 and 39.8 cases). Only sexual violence incidents increased sharply, with an average of 1.75 cases per day, up about 600% from 0.25 cases last year.
The police reported that due to increased travel to and from hometowns following the return to normal life, the average daily number of 112 emergency calls was 6,219, a 3.9% decrease from 5,971 calls last year. Traffic accidents also decreased significantly, with an average of 24 cases per day, down 56.7% from 56 cases last year. The police attributed this to the proactive deployment of 2,078 traffic officers in expected congestion areas and the use of 3 unmarked patrol cars and 812 traffic patrol vehicles to prevent traffic accidents.
The police conducted special field operations to crack down on illegal tourist activities, detecting 25 cases, and handled 650 reports and complaints related to foreigners. Additionally, they carried out visible and preventive criminal activities against crimes affecting public livelihood, joint patrols with subway police and security guards, and safety management in crowded situations to maintain peaceful security during the Lunar New Year holiday.
A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated, "We will do our best to create a safe Seoul through proactive security activities that allow citizens to feel safe and satisfied."
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