[Report] Flawless Alleyway Security... Mobile Patrol Unit Approaching Citizens Closely

Newly Established to Prevent Violent Crimes and Ensure Community Safety
Focusing on Patrol Duties While Responding to Incidents and Accidents

At around 1 p.m. on the 16th, about 30 police officers wearing dark blue shirts and caps lined up at Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Citizens were concerned that something might have happened at Tapgol Park. These officers belong to the Mobile Patrol Unit, which was launched in February, and gathered in one place to publicly demonstrate their patrol process to the public on the 50th day since their establishment.

At around 1 p.m. on the 16th, Kim Yong-hyuk, Chief of the Seoul Mobile Patrol Unit 1, is giving instructions regarding patrol duties at Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Shim Sung-ah]

The Mobile Patrol Unit was newly established by reallocating personnel through the reduction of administrative staff to prevent unpredictable violent crimes. Before their formation, local police officers were responsible for both patrol activities and responding to 112 emergency calls. This meant that if a call was received during a patrol, officers had to immediately stop patrolling and respond, which posed difficulties. The Mobile Patrol Unit was reorganized to address concerns that patrol duties, which are crucial for crime prevention, were being weakened, and to enable local police to respond promptly to 112 calls.

On this day, Team 1 of Mobile Patrol Unit 1 started their patrol from Tapgol Park, moving through the nearby jjokbangchon (small room village) and the jewelry shopping district. On the way to Donui-dong jjokbangchon, the officers advised vehicles illegally parked on the roadside and checked on local residents in the area. Upon arriving at the jjokbangchon, they walked through narrow alleys to look for potential hazards. Resident Lee Jang-gyu (67) said, “Because the neighborhood environment is quite poor, crime prevention activities were absolutely necessary,” adding, “The residents respond positively because the police patrol frequently.”

The next destination was the Jongno jewelry shopping district. The Mobile Patrol Unit inspected the area around the shopping district and entered several shops to talk with merchants. The police checked whether the CCTV was functioning properly and pressed the emergency bell to confirm communication with the main police station’s CCTV control center.

Gong Chang-hoo, chairman of the Jongno Jewelry Safety Council, said, “The council can only conduct crime prevention campaigns,” and added, “Since the Mobile Patrol Unit can immediately apprehend criminals when dispatched, it is a great help.” Jewelry shop owner Kang Byung-rok (70) also said, “There are often cases where someone pretends to buy products but steals them,” and added, “It would help prevent robberies if the police visit occasionally.”

On the 16th, Team 1 of the Seoul Mobile Patrol Unit 1 was patrolling the alleyways of the Donui-dong goshiwon village in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Shim Seong-a]

Although the Mobile Patrol Unit has not been established for long, it has achieved results. Through “problem-solving patrols,” which means identifying issues and taking immediate action, they have improved non-functioning streetlights and CCTVs, upgraded aging traffic facilities, and worked to protect socially vulnerable groups such as children and people with disabilities. In addition, they have cracked down on 18,286 basic order violations, apprehended 3,763 wanted persons, and handled 971 criminal cases.

According to the National Police Agency, compared to the same period last year, the number of 112 calls, emergency calls, and dispatches decreased by 20.3%, 7.2%, and 7.8%, respectively. The incidence of violent crimes, including those involving weapons, which had raised the need for the Mobile Patrol Unit, also declined. Violent crimes decreased by 3.8% compared to the same period last year, with violent crimes involving weapons dropping by as much as 14.8%.

Im Seong-soon, head of the Crime Prevention Policy Division at the National Police Agency, said, “Many risk factors are resolved during patrols, so I believe the system is settling in as intended,” and added, “We will operate the system to establish it firmly, prevent crime, and achieve important goals such as public reassurance.”