344 Safety Officers to Conduct On-Site Inspections in May and June
Focusing on Potholes, Personal Mobility Devices, and Illegal Banners
Gwangju city safety officers, the local guardians of safety, are thoroughly inspecting roads and pedestrian areas for hazards such as potholes and illegal banners.
Gwangju city will operate a "focused reporting period" for two months in May and June 2025, during which safety officers will visit road and pedestrian sites in person to quickly identify and report safety hazards.
The "safety officer" program was launched in 2018, following guidelines from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to prevent disasters and accidents caused by safety insensitivity. It is composed mainly of members from private safety organizations who are familiar with local conditions. Currently, 344 safety officers are active in Gwangju, engaging in activities such as reporting hazards in daily life and conducting safety culture campaigns to promote prevention.
This year, in particular, safety officers will focus on improving safe roads and creating a pleasant pedestrian environment as part of the "Walkable City" initiative, which is a key policy under the "Public Transport, Bicycle, and Pedestrian-Oriented City" strategy.
During the focused reporting period, safety officers will visit various road and sidewalk sites to conduct intensive inspections of issues such as personal mobility devices (PMs) and other two-wheeled vehicles, illegal parking, illegal banners (which obstruct road visibility), and road facility damage including potholes. When hazards are detected, they will immediately report them using the Safety Sinmungo app.
Safety officers also plan to carry out activities such as inspecting and reporting hazards in daily life, filing public interest reports on safety violations, and working to eradicate the seven major unsafe practices. Once a report is submitted to Safety Sinmungo, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety designates a responsible agency to ensure prompt handling.
Last year, Gwangju city safety officers contributed to promoting public reporting and spreading a culture of safety by filing 29,215 reports of safety violations?including 3,003 reports on the seven major unsafe practices?conducting 78 safety inspections and monitoring activities, and holding 59 safety campaigns.
Lee Buho, Director of Safety Policy, stated, "Together with the safety officers, who are the guardians of local safety, we will thoroughly and proactively eliminate hazards in our daily surroundings so that citizens can enjoy a safer everyday life."
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