Our Neighborhood Has Changed, Pohang City Citizen Safety and Security Street Receives 'Positive Reviews'

Yongheung-dong and Yeonil-eup Yugang-ri Alleyways Transformed from Bleak Spaces to Citizen Safety Zones

Safe Changes Including Installation of Safety Lights and Photo Zones Earn Praise from Students and Parents on School Routes

The “Citizen Safety Secure Streets” established in Yongheung-dong, Pohang City, and Yegang area of Yeonil-eup are receiving positive reviews from residents for enhancing public safety.

Recently, as violent crimes targeting women and children have increased and demands for crime prevention have grown, the city is focusing its administrative efforts on creating secure spaces to ensure citizens’ safety and increase happiness indices.

Accordingly, the city has promoted the Secure Streets project as part of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), considering residents’ needs and urgency, and closely cooperating with the police to create citizen-experienced safety-specialized spaces called “Citizen Safety Secure Streets” in Yongheung-dong and Yegang-ri areas of Yeonil.

The underpass between Ssangyong Apartment and Seosan Tunnel in Yongheung-dong is used as a school route for students and the main entrance and exit for residents, but the interior paint was deteriorated and the dim lighting made the surrounding area bleak, causing citizens to feel uneasy.

The underpass near Seosan Tunnel in Yongheung-dong has been transformed into a safe road through painting and other improvements.

In response, the city installed a tunnel sign at the entrance and exit saying “Our Village Together Protecting Secure Street,” visualizing the image of a safe city, Pohang. With resident-friendly characters, improved interior and exterior lighting, repainting, and photo zones, the space has been reborn as a safe area where anyone can walk with peace of mind.

The city plans to install safety fences, replace sidewalk blocks, and conduct regular environmental maintenance so that students and residents can walk safely and local residents can visit this happy space comfortably.

Also, the alley between Yegang Elementary School and Yegang Middle School in Yeonil had heavy foot traffic from students and residents but was difficult to pass at night due to surrounding mountains and vacant land that blocked lighting. To improve this, secure lights and logo projectors were installed, transforming it into a pedestrian-centered space that has received favorable reviews from students, parents, and citizens.

Safety-related phrases expressed with a logo projector on the pavement of the Yugang-ri alleyway day after day.

Along with creating secure streets, the city is also expanding the “Our Neighborhood Safety Keeper Project.” Together with village residents such as autonomous defense groups, it helps children and women return home safely and forms a safety community that protects each other, enabling residents to voluntarily safeguard safety.

Additionally, the city is strengthening cooperation with the Nambu Police Station (Chief Si Jin-gon) and Bukbu Police Station (Chief Kim Han-tak) to prioritize installing six citizen safety CCTVs at four locations including Cheonmasan Dulle-gil, in front of Hyoja Church, and Dongbin Big Bridge by the end of the year. The city plans to expand disaster and safety projects such as creating secure return-home streets to prevent crime.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok stated, “I believe a truly advanced city is one where citizens can live safely and securely,” and added, “We will do our best to expand safety policies that citizens can genuinely feel at their level and create a city with a high happiness index.”