Jung-gu Increases Protective Measures and Operates Security Guards to Prevent Malicious Complaints

Wearable cam worn like a name tag. Provided by Jung-gu.

Jung-gu District Office in Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gil-seong) announced on the 28th that it is implementing various protective measures to enhance the safety of civil service officers in charge of civil complaints at the neighborhood community centers.

This is to prevent and create a safe working environment as cases of serious harm to public officials due to illegal acts such as verbal abuse, assault, and threats from complainants have been continuously occurring.

Since last month, Jung-gu has installed emergency bells for each civil complaint officer at the neighborhood community centers to enable supervisors to intervene quickly in emergency situations. When a civil complaint officer presses the emergency bell, an immediate alert is sent to the supervisor, establishing a system to prevent and promptly respond to incidents of verbal abuse and assault that may occur during civil complaint duties.

Additionally, ‘wearable cams’ that can be worn like name tags are provided to civil complaint officers to record and film illegal acts such as verbal abuse or assault during work. To protect personal information, recording is only used minimally after prior notification of recording in case of illegal acts. When necessary, the recorded material is used as evidence for legal action.

In the second half of the year, the district plans to operate ‘Neighborhood Civil Complaint Security Guards’ in three neighborhoods with many visiting complainants. The security guards will be stationed in the civil complaint offices of each neighborhood community center to assist visitors and immediately respond to sudden acts by malicious complainants, protecting staff and other visitors. After a pilot operation this year, the program will be expanded to all neighborhoods starting next year.

Furthermore, legal measures will be strengthened against verbal abuse, sexual harassment, long or repeated phone calls, and violence. Support such as providing break time and psychological counseling will be offered to civil complaint officers exposed to malicious complainants to enhance staff protection.

District Mayor Kim Gil-seong stated, “We will strive to create an environment where neighborhood community center staff working on the front lines of civil administration can work with peace of mind and, through this, provide even better administrative services.”