Protect Youth After Suneung!... Crackdown on Harmful Environments in Mapo, Yeongdeungpo, Songpa Districts

Mapo, Yeongdeungpo, Songpa Districts Designated as 'Youth Protection Special Activity Week' from November 13 to December 1 with Nighttime Special Crackdowns and Campaigns

Mapo-gu Youth Street Counseling Center

As the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) ended on the 16th, efforts to protect teenagers from harmful environments are increasing.

Districts such as Mapo-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Songpa-gu are strengthening crackdowns on harmful establishments like karaoke rooms, where teenagers are expected to gather after the CSAT, to prevent any immoral activities.

◇Mapo-gu operates ‘Youth Street Counseling Booth’ near Exit 6 of Hongdae Entrance Station at the former Gyeongui Line Book Street

Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) announced that on the day of the CSAT on the 16th, it operated a ‘Youth Street Counseling Booth’ at the former Gyeongui Line Book Street near Exit 6 of Hongdae Entrance Station to create a safe street environment and foster a healthy youth culture.

The ‘Youth Street Counseling Booth’ was planned to provide customized counseling and support tailored to each youth’s situation, with participation from youth-related organizations including the Mapo-gu Youth Counseling and Welfare Center, Mapo-gu Youth Support Center (Kkum Dream), the Teen Female Human Rights Center, and the Mapo Police Station.

In particular, the area around the Gyeongui Line Book Street has recently become known as a preferred spot for youths pursuing the Japanese "Menhera" culture (a Japanese neologism referring to people who appear to have poor mental health), which has become a social issue, raising concerns within the community.

Since July, Mapo-gu has been monitoring the area through the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center and has operated the counseling booth for youths known as the so-called ‘Gyeongui Line Kids.’

An official from the district stated, “Through the counseling booth, we aim to encourage voluntary and continuous participation in counseling by youths facing some real-life difficulties, thereby preventing deviant behavior and preemptively protecting youths from being exposed to crime without defense.”

Additionally, from the day of the CSAT until the 30th, Mapo-gu has formed a joint inspection team with the Mapo Police Station and the Mapo-gu Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Group to conduct joint inspections and campaigns targeting harmful environments for youths.

The main inspection items include ▲ checking for sales of harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco to youths and whether prohibition signs are posted ▲ violations of youth entry and employment bans at harmful establishments ▲ condoning or aiding cohabitation of opposite-sex youths, among others.

Violating establishments will be subject to administrative measures such as correction orders and fines according to relevant laws, and continuous monitoring will be conducted to improve the harmful environment for youths.

Mayor Park Gang-su emphasized, “The entire community must watch over and work together with warm interest so that youths, the driving force of the future, can grow up properly,” adding, “Mapo-gu will also do its best to carefully examine and improve elements harmful to youths.”

◇Yeongdeungpo-gu intensifies crackdowns on areas dense with harmful establishments

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will conduct intensive crackdowns on harmful environments for youths around schools and areas dense with harmful establishments before and after the CSAT.

From November 13 to December 1, the district will cooperate with the Yeongdeungpo Police Station and the Yeongdeungpo-gu Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Group to crack down on ▲ violations of youth entry and employment bans at new and variant room cafes, pubs, cafes, lodging businesses, etc. ▲ violations of youth entry time restrictions at karaoke rooms, PC rooms, jjimjilbangs (Korean saunas), etc. ▲ sales of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances ▲ distribution of inappropriate flyers ▲ condoning or aiding cohabitation of opposite-sex youths in motels, among others.

They will also guide youths wandering the streets late at night to return home and take the lead in protecting youths exposed to drinking, smoking, violence, and running away. At-risk youths and out-of-school youths will be supported through connections with local youth counseling welfare centers and out-of-school youth support centers.

Furthermore, on the day of the CSAT, the district held a street campaign around Yeongdeungpo Station together with the Yeongdeungpo Police Station, the Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Group, and the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center. They distributed promotional materials to raise awareness for creating a safe environment for youths and to promote various programs for at-risk and out-of-school youths.

Meanwhile, the Yeongdeungpo-gu Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Group regularly inspects areas around harmful environments for youths and visits schools to cheer on test-takers with support events until the CSAT day.

Mayor Choi Ho-kwon stated, “After the CSAT, youths tend to relax and feel liberated, which increases the likelihood of deviant behaviors such as drinking and smoking,” adding, “We will do our best to ensure that youths, the future leaders, are not exposed to harmful environments and can grow up safely and healthily.”

◇Songpa-gu conducts digital sex crime prevention education with caregivers

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) has taken proactive measures as the risk of youths being exposed to delinquency and crime increases after the tension of the CSAT is released.

First, considering the recent sophisticated and rapidly evolving digital sex crimes targeting youths, the district is focusing on conducting ‘Digital Sex Crime Prevention Education with Caregivers.’

According to Seoul City on the 13th, among digital sex crime victims supported by the city this year, those in their teens and twenties accounted for 51%, with teenagers making up 13.5%, emphasizing the importance of prevention education targeting youths.

Accordingly, the district has prepared prevention education that parents can practically use at home.

Specialist instructors from the Songpa Youth Sexual Culture Center will provide detailed information through specific cases on ▲ types and prevention methods of digital sex crimes such as grooming, illegal filming, and deepfakes ▲ sex crime prevention education methods that can be practiced at home ▲ guidance on support organizations in case of victimization.

The education will be held five times from November 28 to December 12. The schedule differs among four district-run youth centers and Songpa-gu Office, so applicants should refer to this and apply through the Sexual Culture Center. Any interested parents and residents can apply.

The district also designated the period from the CSAT day for three weeks as the ‘Youth Protection Special Activity Week’ and will conduct special nighttime crackdowns and campaigns.

Together with about 20 people including the Songpa Police Station, Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Group, and Child and Youth Guidance Committee members, they will focus inspections on areas dense with harmful establishments such as the Jamsil Saenae Station food alley.

Inspection items include ▲ compliance with youth entry bans at entertainment establishments ▲ violations of youth employment bans ▲ violations of youth entry time restrictions after 10 p.m. at karaoke rooms and PC rooms ▲ sales of harmful substances (alcohol, tobacco, etc.) to youths ▲ violations of distribution of harmful and illegal advertising materials.

If violations are detected, on-site guidance and correction orders will be issued, and if unavoidable, measures will be progressively strengthened.

Mayor Seo Gang-seok of Songpa-gu said, “Community interest is important for youths to grow into healthy members of society,” and added, “We ask for much cooperation so that test-takers who have completed the CSAT can safely finish their exam period.”