Gangseo-gu Significantly Expands Safe Return Home Service Operations

Expanding from 11 to 16 Neighborhoods
and Increasing Personnel

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jin Gyo-hoon) is expanding the operation of the ‘Safe Return Scout’ to ensure the safety of residents returning home late at night.

Safe Return Home Scout. Provided by Gangseo-gu.

This project is a service where scout members accompany vulnerable residents such as women and youth during late-night hours to ensure they can return home safely.

Last year, the district provided 2,122 return-home support services and conducted 26,531 patrol activities. This year, the project area will be significantly expanded from the existing 11 neighborhoods to 16 neighborhoods, and the operating personnel will also be increased to further strengthen the crime prevention safety network.

On the 7th, the district selected 18 Safe Return Scout members and will operate the service from the 11th until the end of the year. The members, organized in pairs, will provide accompaniment services to residents based at nine subway stations within the district, and will also patrol high-risk areas such as entertainment establishments, secluded alleys, schools, and academy districts.

The service hours are from 10 PM to 12 AM on Mondays, and from 10 PM to 1 AM the following day from Tuesday to Friday. However, during the winter season (February) and summer season (July to August), shortened working hours will be implemented, with the service closed on Mondays and operating from 10 PM to 12 AM from Tuesday to Friday. Residents wishing to use the service can make reservations through the ‘Seoul Safe’ app, and only same-day reservations are accepted.

In addition, the district is making every effort to reduce safety blind spots by installing 120 intelligent closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) in crime-prone areas and concentrating safety security personnel in parks and walking trails.

Meanwhile, these efforts by the district led to receiving the Presidential Citation at the ‘Korea Crime Prevention Awards’ hosted by the National Police Agency in October last year, and being ranked first among Seoul’s autonomous districts in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s ‘2024 National Safety Education Evaluation.’

Mayor Jin Gyo-hoon said, “We prioritize the safety of our residents in our administration, and especially make various efforts to ensure that vulnerable groups such as women and youth can live safely. We will continue to prioritize residents’ safety and create a safe Gangseo-gu.”