Social Tensions Rise After Impeachment Verdict
Emergency Countermeasure Meeting Held, Administrative Capabilities Focused
Jung-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gil-seong) announced on the 6th that it held an emergency countermeasure meeting on the 4th amid rising social tensions following the impeachment trial verdict of President Yoon Seok-yeol, and will focus administrative capabilities to protect the daily lives and safety of residents.
Jung-gu, Seoul has established a 'Comprehensive Safety Management Situation Room' within the district office, and 14 task forces have entered a real-time response system. Provided by Jung-gu.
To strengthen safety management around City Hall Station, where large-scale rallies are concentrated, Jung-gu established a ‘Comprehensive Safety Management Situation Room’ within the district office led by the deputy mayor, and 14 task forces have entered a real-time response system.
From the 3rd to the 6th, 892 personnel will be deployed for safety management. Staff are assigned to major exits of City Hall Station and Euljiro 1-ga Station, operating 12 intelligent closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) to manage crowds. In preparation for emergencies, a medical support team and ambulances are stationed near Cheonggye Plaza.
Additionally, illegal street vendors, illegal parking, and advertisements around the rally sites are being intensively cracked down on to ensure pedestrian safety. Notices related to the rallies are sent via text messages to travel-related businesses such as foreigner urban guesthouses and Hanbok experience shops to safeguard the safety of foreign tourists.
Eleven construction sites near the expected rally routes have undergone emergency inspections to preemptively remove falling objects, noise, and pedestrian hazards. Surrounding roads and walkways have been maintained to provide safe passage. In forest areas such as Namsan and Maebongsan, surveillance personnel have been increased and patrols strengthened to prevent fire risks.
To stabilize the local economy, the district is investing a budget of 700 million won in 39 traditional markets and alley-type shopping districts to support facility improvements, festivals, events, and other customized projects to revitalize commercial areas. The district also plans to actively participate in public contests aimed at revitalizing traditional markets. So far this year, 235 million won in external funds have been secured through such contests.
The proportion of Onnuri gift certificate refund events will also be expanded to support alley-type shopping districts. Alongside this, through an agreement between the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency, Jung-gu, and merchant associations, loans without guarantees or collateral will be provided to traditional markets and shopping districts based on size and evaluation grade, using dormant deposit funds from the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency.
The district will provide tailored welfare support to households facing livelihood crises, children, women, and single-parent families, who may become more vulnerable amid social unrest. Various reporting channels such as KakaoTalk channels and welfare hotlines are in operation to proactively identify at-risk households, and public-private cooperation systems have been strengthened. Once at-risk households are identified, rapid support will be provided through emergency welfare and Care SOS services.
Applications for social security benefits will be processed promptly, and alternative welfare services will be linked for households that fail screening to establish a thorough welfare safety net. In particular, transportation expenses for low-income university students will be paid earlier, moving from the originally scheduled end of May to the end of this month.
Care for the elderly will also be strengthened. Approximately 900 recipients of customized elderly care services have been contacted by phone before and after the impeachment trial verdict to check on their well-being, with full visits planned soon. Additionally, psychological stability for vulnerable groups will be supported through cultural programs for self-sufficiency participants and counseling services for single-parent and multi-child families.
The district plans to conduct special inspections to ensure political neutrality and compliance with service regulations among public officials, focus on checking current tasks in each department, and make every effort to prevent inconvenience to residents’ daily lives. With the presidential election scheduled, major work plans will be reviewed according to the election schedule, and progress will be monitored regularly.
District Mayor Kim Gil-seong stated, “Under any circumstances, the safety and livelihood of residents must never be shaken,” and added, “We will mobilize all of the district’s capabilities to firmly support residents so they can enjoy a peaceful daily life.”
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