Yeongdeungpo-gu Challenges ZERO Crime in Unmanned Stores

Yeongdeungpo-gu Holds Meeting on Child and Youth Crime Prevention with Yeongdeungpo Police Station Officials on the 8th

Strengthening Cooperation with the Community through Installation of Conscience Mirrors and Focused Patrols of Unmanned Stores

Placement of Crime Prevention Quiz Boxes and Crime Prevention Education by School Police Officers

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it held a meeting with related organizations and groups on the 8th at the Acro Tower Square Residents' Meeting Room to discuss various cooperation measures for preventing crimes involving children and youth related to unmanned stores in the new school term.

Recently, due to rising labor costs and the impact of COVID-19, unmanned stores such as unmanned ice cream shops and unmanned stationery stores have rapidly increased. As a result, the number of unmanned stores in the area rose from 92 in 2021 to 164 as of February 2023, an increase of 78.3%, with seven high-risk unmanned stores experiencing thefts three or more times.

The district plans to discuss various cooperation measures with related community organizations to prepare child and youth crime prevention and protection measures, and to continuously focus efforts to ensure children can grow up safely.

The meeting was attended by 21 people including Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Choi Ho-kwon, officials from Yeongdeungpo Police Station, the Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Group, the Youth Guidance Council, the Autonomous Crime Prevention Union, Parent Food Safety Guardians, and unmanned store owners. They agreed to actively collaborate on focused patrols of unmanned stores, child guidance, installation of unmanned store access systems, and posting CCTV warning signs to prevent theft incidents involving children and youth and to devise self-help measures to overcome the limitations of unmanned stores.

After the meeting, two conscience mirrors were installed at unmanned stores within the Acro Tower Square shopping area to help children who might have had bad intentions briefly see their reflection and feel ashamed, thereby suppressing the urge to steal. In fact, after installing a conscience mirror at an unmanned ice cream shop in the area, theft incidents decreased from three cases in 2021 to zero.

Additionally, the district, in collaboration with Yeongdeungpo Police Station, will install conscience mirrors and theft prevention entrance signs at unmanned ice cream shops and stationery stores near elementary, middle, and high schools and residential areas. Crime prevention quiz boxes and crime prevention-themed plastic bags will also be provided to raise awareness about crime. Furthermore, with the new school term, School Police Officers (SPO) will conduct crime prevention education targeting students regarding unmanned store crimes.

Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Choi Ho-kwon stated, “We will proactively improve crime-vulnerable environments such as unmanned stores through close cooperation with the community to prevent crimes in advance and strengthen the social safety net. We will continue to pay attention and make efforts together with the community so that our children, the future leaders, can grow up safely.”

Seocho-gu Offers Free Eco-Friendly Bicycle Washing Service

District Opens Two Free Bicycle Washing Stations (Sadang Station and Yangjaecheon Neighborhood Park) from March to November

Available Every Tuesday to Saturday (10 AM to 5 PM) without Reservation

Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) is providing a free bicycle washing service starting this month to thoroughly clean the accumulated dirt on bicycles that have been parked throughout the winter.

The district operates free bicycle washing services at two locations: Sadang Station Bicycle Repair Center (Exit 13 of Sadang Station) and Yangjaecheon Neighborhood Park (south end of Yeongdong 1 Bridge) until November.

Started in 2021 as the first of its kind among local governments nationwide, the ‘Free Bicycle Washing Service’ is an eco-friendly project that uses high-pressure, high-temperature steam cleaners without detergents. Last year, over 3,900 residents used this service, receiving great positive feedback.

Notably, in 2021, the service won the Grand Prize at the Green Apple Awards, Europe’s top environmental award, recognizing its excellence both domestically and internationally.

The service operates from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM (lunch break from 12 PM to 1 PM). It is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays. Residents can use the washing service without prior reservation by simply visiting the locations.

In addition, the district runs two bicycle repair centers at Bangbae Station and Sadang Station as part of its bicycle-related projects. Bicycle insurance has also been reinstated since March this year, automatically enrolling Seocho-gu residents to provide benefits.

Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, “We will continue to strive to create a bicycle-friendly city where residents can use bicycles conveniently and safely.”