Seoul City Council Chair Choi Hojung Patrols Cheonho-dong Rodeo Street Security... Encourages Police at Local Police Station

Listening to Opinions on Working Conditions of Local Police and the Autonomous Police Committee
Discussion on Welfare Points for District and Substation Police Officers
Hearing the Difficulties of Local Small Business Owners
Choi Hojung: "Actively Promoting the Seoul Small Business Support Project"

Choi Hojung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, patrolled the security scene at Cheonho-dong Rodeo Street on the 24th and encouraged frontline district police officers who work hard for citizens' safety and traffic safety.

This site visit was arranged to hear voices from the field regarding improvements in local police working conditions following the operation of the Autonomous Police Committee. The visit was accompanied by Jang Taeyong, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Administrative Autonomy Committee, and Lee Yongpyo, Chairperson of the Autonomous Police Committee.

Chairperson Choi visited the Cheonho Police Station to listen to the opinions of on-site police officers and joined a joint patrol of Cheonho Rodeo Street with the patrol team and the autonomous crime prevention squad.

During the meeting, an issue of fairness was discussed regarding district and substation police officers who perform a significant portion of autonomous police duties but are not designated as officers performing autonomous police tasks, thus not receiving welfare points.

Currently, most metropolitan local governments provide welfare points to district and substation police officers. However, Seoul City does not provide welfare points to these officers, citing the lack of appointment authority as the reason.

Chairperson Choi said, “I am always grateful for your hard work on the front lines to protect citizens' safety and lives,” adding, “Support for welfare should be comprehensively judged based on actual work contributions rather than distinctions made for administrative convenience. We will review this matter thoroughly.”

After the patrol, Chairperson Choi listened to the difficulties faced by small business owners on Cheonho Rodeo Street.

Those who joined the commercial district visit included Jang Taeyong, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Administrative Autonomy Committee; Jo Dongtak, Chairperson of Gangdong District Council, along with district council members; officials from Gangdong District Office; Song Hojae, Director of Seoul City’s Livelihood and Labor Bureau; Yoo Byungtae, President of the Rodeo Shopping District Merchants Association; and Yang Jaeyoon, General Affairs Officer.

The merchants met on-site reported that the economy is very difficult, with vacancies even on the first floors, and shared difficulties related to policy loan programs.

Chairperson Choi said, “Seoul City has been actively promoting the Small Business Support Project since this year,” and added, “We will meticulously organize the information delivery system so that various policy support information, including loans, can be well communicated from the city to the district and then to the merchants' association.”