Jongno District's Semi-basement Safety Network "Jongno Emergency Bell" Becomes a National Model for Disaster Response

Selected as an Excellent Case at the Manifesto Best Practice Competition
Securing the Golden Time for Saving Lives
Support for Installation in 105 Households by Next Year

Jongno District in Seoul (District Mayor Chung Moonheon) is receiving nationwide attention for its smart safety system, "Jongno Emergency Bell," which was established with a focus on securing the "golden time" during disaster situations.

Jung Moonheon, mayor of Jongno-gu, is demonstrating the emergency bell in Jongno. Provided by Jongno-gu.

The Jongno Emergency Bell project was selected as an excellent case in the field of safety and disaster management at the "2025 National Local Government Manifesto Best Practice Competition" held on July 24. A total of 159 local governments from across the country participated in the competition with 401 projects.

The Jongno Emergency Bell, which was introduced last year for the first time in the country, connects disaster-vulnerable residents, Jongno District, and the fire station to respond step by step to flooding situations in underground housing.

The key components are the "flood sensor" and the "emergency bell." The sensor is installed on the front door or window, and when water rises above the alert level (2 cm), it detects the situation and sends a text message to the district office, residents, guardians, and accompanying partners.

If flooding progresses to the danger level (15 cm), an automatic report is filed, and the fire station is dispatched. Residents can also report directly. In an emergency, pressing the bell allows 119 responders to check the resident's condition through a two-way communication device and arrive at the scene quickly.

This year, the district has prioritized and completed the installation of emergency bells in 25 households, including those with severe disabilities, residents aged 65 and older, and households vulnerable to flooding. Next year, the district plans to install the system in 80 households.

The Jongno Emergency Bell was selected as the final project for Seoul City's "Support Project for Accompanying the Vulnerable," securing 75 million won in city funding. It also secured 300 million won in national funding through selection in the Ministry of Science and ICT's "Smart Village Project."

In addition, Jongno District continues to achieve ongoing administrative innovation and results. It has won the "Korea Urban Award" hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for 12 consecutive years and ranked first in the Korea Service Quality Index (KS-SQI) for seven consecutive years. Furthermore, it was honored as an "Excellent Institution in Innovation Evaluation" by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, demonstrating Jongno District's administrative capabilities to the public.

District Mayor Chung Moonheon stated, "We will continue to do our best to establish a proactive and thorough disaster response system and make Jongno a place where everyone can live with peace of mind and safety."