Blind Spots Despite CCTV and Emergency Bell Installation
Experts Call for Fundamental Solutions
It has been a year since the ‘Sillim-dong Hiking Trail Murder Case’ occurred, but the urban walking paths still remain blind spots. Although a large number of CCTVs and emergency bells were installed after the incident, residents continue to live in fear.
On the afternoon of the 6th at Seoul’s Gwanaksan Ecological Park, Hwang Seok-jin (66) said, “In the past, I used to enter the park through a shortcut, but now I park my car in the parking lot and enter by taking the main road around,” adding, “The feeling of insecurity has not completely disappeared.” Kim Mi-ok (75) said, “I didn’t come to the park for several months after the murder case,” and “Even these days, I don’t come alone; I call someone to come with me.”
On August 17 last year, the murderer Choi Yoon-jong sexually assaulted the victim and strangled them to death on a hiking trail only 200 to 300 meters away from a nearby apartment. At the time, Choi testified that he chose the crime scene after confirming there was no CCTV. Although additional CCTVs have been installed now, there are still places along the shortcuts that are highly exposed to crime risks.
The Gwanak District Office deployed forest path safety guards along the hiking trails and parks. Seventy patrol officers, who are former police and firefighters, patrol the forest paths from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 619 intelligent CCTVs and emergency bells are in operation. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency patrols an average of 328 people daily along the city’s perimeter trails and has improved crime prevention facilities such as CCTVs and security lights. However, citizens remain skeptical about the effectiveness of crime prevention. Shin (80) said, “I often see people patrolling the park and CCTVs seem densely installed,” but added, “I never come here at night.”
Experts emphasized the need for fundamental solutions rather than just increasing CCTVs and patrol personnel. Lee Woong-hyuk, a professor in the Department of Police Science at Konkuk University, said, “The idea that crime will disappear just because CCTVs or patrol personnel increase is a vague, administration-centered notion,” and added, “Specific alternatives, such as changing the physical environmental structure for crime prevention, should be attempted.” Kwak Dae-kyung, a professor at Dongguk University’s College of Police and Criminal Justice, advised, “Since criminal acts are problems caused by the complex interaction of various social and cultural phenomena, it should not be considered solely as a policing issue,” and “A whole-of-government response is necessary.”
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