Gangseo District Offers Free “Self-Defense Safety Training” for Residents

20 Free Sessions Until Next Month,
Registration on a First-Come, First-Served Basis

Gangseo District in Seoul (District Mayor Jin Kyohoon) will launch the “2025 Gangseo Self-Defense Safety Training” starting this month. The training will run from October 13 to November 26, offering a total of 20 free sessions, each lasting one hour, beginning in Gayang 1-dong and continuing according to the schedule for each neighborhood.

Self-defense training session in Gayang 2-dong. Provided by Gangseo District.

According to the National Police Agency, so-called “irrational motive crimes” targeting random individuals-such as the 2023 Sillim Station and Seohyeon Station incidents, and the 2024 Mia-dong supermarket incident-have occurred steadily, with 46 cases in 2023 and 42 cases in 2024, consistently exceeding 40 cases each year. In response, Gangseo District has organized self-defense training to help residents strengthen their ability to respond to crises on their own.

The program covers understanding self-defense, analyzing criminal behavior patterns, defensive techniques for real-life scenarios, and practical exercises using everyday items such as bags and mobile phones. Notably, this year, a self-defense instructor from the Crime Prevention and Response Division of Gangseo Police Station will personally participate, providing customized instruction based on Taekwondo. The district aims to enhance the effectiveness of the training by focusing on practical self-defense techniques that anyone can easily learn and apply.

All Gangseo District residents are eligible to participate, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis at each neighborhood community center. Detailed schedules can be found in the notices section on the Gangseo District Office website.

Jin Kyohoon, Mayor of Gangseo District, stated, “I believe this is a great opportunity to learn defensive skills to protect oneself from irrational motive crimes targeting random individuals,” adding, “We will do our utmost not only to provide self-defense training but also to strengthen the social safety net, so that everyone can feel secure in our city.”