Kim Kyun-ho, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member, Proposes Amendment to the Autonomous Crime Prevention Corps Act

The Seo-gu Council of Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 10th that during the 311th extraordinary session held on the 9th, Councilor Kim Gyun-ho proposed the 'Autonomous Crime Prevention Corps Act Amendment Proposal' as the representative.

All Seo-gu council members urged ▲ the repeal of the current law's disqualification clause for minors ▲ the establishment of an exception clause for minors who fall under the disqualification criteria.

Councilor Kim stated, “In the case of Seo-gu, it is the only district nationwide that launched the ‘Youth Crime Prevention Corps’ in 2014 through a public contest project by the Seo-gu Office. For the past nine years, it has spread volunteerism to about 100 youths annually and has exerted a positive influence on the local community through various educational activities (sex education, first aid training, picking-up activities, etiquette education, sharing activities, etc.).”

He also mentioned that the positive influence on the local community has created a positive synergy, increasing the number of parents in the area joining the crime prevention corps. Additionally, preparations are underway to launch a youth crime prevention corps in the combined corps of the five districts of Gwangju, indicating a nationwide increase in youth crime prevention corps members.

However, due to the so-called 'Autonomous Crime Prevention Corps Act' enacted last month, minors are disqualified from being corps members, putting the currently active youth crime prevention corps at risk of disbandment. He pointed out that although the positive effects of youth crime prevention have led to a nationwide increase in youth crime prevention corps, the law is moving in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, the autonomous crime prevention corps, which began with the resident night patrol system in 1953, had 4,225 organizations nationwide with a total of 100,442 members as of October 2021. In Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, 397 autonomous crime prevention corps members and 111 youth crime prevention corps members are active across 18 neighborhoods.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho bless4ya@asiae.co.kr