"Ansim Village Security Guards, Deployed Wherever You Want"

Seoul City Begins Accepting Activity Area Recommendations

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will select the patrol areas for the ‘Ansim Maeul Boangwan’ (Neighborhood Safety Guardians), who have established themselves as protectors of our neighborhoods late at night, by reflecting the voices of citizens. Following last year, 15 areas will be selected again this year. Anyone can recommend areas in their neighborhood that require nighttime patrol activities.

Seoul announced on the 25th that it will accept recommendations for the ‘Ansim Maeul Boangwan’ patrol areas from tomorrow until the 5th of next month.

Recommendations can be submitted by detailing the desired area for deployment and reasons for recommendation through the ‘Seoul Metropolitan Government 1-Person Household Portal,’ the ‘Official 1-Person Household Social Media (Instagram·Facebook),’ or the ‘Google Form link.’ Anyone can participate regardless of age or residence, and for further details, inquiries can be made to the Seoul Metropolitan Government 1-Person Household Office.

Seoul will finalize a total of 15 locations in February through a review committee consisting of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the Autonomous Police Committee, and experts in crime prevention, based on residential vulnerability areas recommended by citizens and autonomous districts. Last year, a total of 71 locations were received through citizen recommendations and autonomous district applications, and after the review committee, 15 locations (11 from autonomous districts and 4 from citizen proposals) were selected.

Before the full-scale activities begin, Seoul will announce a bidding notice through the national procurement system at the end of this month to recruit an operating company to professionally carry out this year’s ‘Ansim Maeul Boangwan’ project. In February, a total of 63 excellent security personnel with local expertise, including former military personnel, police officers, and volunteer crime prevention teams, will be recruited, and the ‘Ansim Maeul Boangwan’ activities will be conducted from mid-March to mid-December.

Kim Seonsun, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Women and Family Policy Office, said, “The ‘Seoul Ansim Maeul Boangwan,’ our neighborhood nighttime safety guardians, is a project in its third year aimed at creating a safe residential environment for Seoul citizens, including single-person households.” She added, “We ask interested citizens to be sure to recommend areas where they feel the Ansim Maeul Boangwan are needed.”