Expansion of Weekend and Night Education for Office Workers
Interest Surges with Each Disaster
Seoul's First Regional Comprehensive Safety Experience Center
Kang Seong-ho, head of the Seongdong Life Safety Learning Center, is explaining how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Kang said, "When you turn on the power, a voice guide plays, so it is easy to operate by simply following the instructions." (Photo by Seongdong-gu Office)
On the 18th, when the Seongdong District Office in Seoul sent self-defense training notification texts to residents who signed up on the district office's social networking service (SNS), the first session was fully booked on the same day. Although it was not as intense as last year's nationwide uproar over 'random violence,' the popularity of self-defense training remained high.
Seongdong District urgently organized weekend self-defense training courses five times last August, right after the knife rampage incidents at Sillim Station and Bundang Seohyeon Station, but there were many requests to offer the training regularly. This year, the number of sessions has been increased to 20, and the training will be held every Thursday and Saturday from the 7th of next month until May.
The number of visitors to the Seongdong Life Safety Learning Center, which mainly provides practical training for disaster, safety, and other hazardous situations, surged to 11,434 last year. Kang Seong-ho, the center director of the Seongdong Life Safety Learning Center, said, "Disaster experience education using CPR or portable simulation equipment is conducted by visiting schools, childcare facilities, and companies directly," adding, "About half of all trainees visit the learning center in person."
The Seongdong Life Safety Learning Center near Exit 6 of Wangsimni Station opened in June 2015. As the need for safety and disaster education increased, Seongdong District built a one-story learning center with an area of 214 square meters on the site of a public parking lot in front of Majang National Sports Center.
The safety experience zone at the learning center offers various programs such as earthquake, ship, fire, CPR, emergency escape device usage, and elevator safety. It is designed to simulate disaster situations so that visitors can see, hear, feel, and experience them firsthand. Since it is a disaster safety education facility for residents, all training is free of charge.
The purpose of the learning center is clear: to strengthen residents' safety awareness and develop their ability to respond to various hazardous situations. Interest in related education soars whenever social disasters occur. Right after the Itaewon tragedy, inquiries about CPR training flooded in. After large fires or disaster accidents, demand for related education is high.
Director Kang explained, "In addition to regular and external education, we operate seasonal special programs such as water safety experiences like survival swimming with elementary students and their parents during summer, and disaster relief camp programs," adding, "This year, we also plan to hold a disaster conference as part of a campaign to improve residents' safety culture awareness."
Seongdong District plans to further promote the Seongdong Life Safety Learning Center so that residents can internalize disaster safety preparedness. The learning center was established in a location with high foot traffic and easy access for this reason. Additionally, weekend operations have been increased this year, and weekday evening classes have been expanded for office workers.
Jung Won-oh, the mayor of Seongdong District, said, "As Seoul's first regional comprehensive safety experience center operated by a district office, we will spare no effort to support residents in safely coping with any disaster situation."
There are only two regional comprehensive safety experience centers in Seoul: Seongdong Life Safety Learning Center in Seongdong District and Yangcheon Life Safety Experience Education Center operated by Yangcheon District. Large-scale experience centers supported by Seoul City are located in Songpa, Boramae, and Gwangnaru.
Seongdong-gu increased the number of self-defense classes from five times last year to 20 times this year, starting next month. The photo shows a self-defense class held last year at the Seongdong Life Safety Learning Center. (Photo by Seongdong-gu Office)
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