Gwangmyeong City and Gwangmyeong Police Launch Dedicated Team for Integrated Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims

Formation of the "Immediate Hope Team":
Integrated Counseling, Protection, and Medical, Legal, and Psychological Support
Park Seungwon: "We Will Do Our Best to Protect Citizens from Violence and Crime"

Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province has joined hands with the Gwangmyeong Police Station to operate a dedicated team that will provide comprehensive support for victims of sexual violence, domestic violence, and other related crimes.

Yang Dongjae, Chief of Gwangmyeong Police Station (left), and Park Seungwon, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City, are holding up the memorandum of understanding for the operation of the 'Immediate Response Team,' a dedicated organization for integrated response to violence victims. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

On October 31, Gwangmyeong City signed a "Memorandum of Understanding for the Operation of the Immediate Hope Team for Joint Response to Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence" with the Gwangmyeong Police Station at the city hall's main conference room.

The newly established Immediate Hope Team is a comprehensive response unit set up to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking. The city and the police station aim to overcome the limitations of the previous institution-specific responses and will provide swift and systematic assistance throughout the entire process-from initial counseling to protection, as well as medical, legal, and psychological support-to help victims return to their daily lives.

The office will be located on the third floor of the new building at the Haan Social Welfare Center and is set to begin operations in mid-November. When reports of violence are received through the 112 emergency hotline, the police will immediately connect victims to the Immediate Hope Team, which will then provide counseling and tailored follow-up support.

The city will assign dedicated personnel, including the Immediate Hope Team leader, professional counselors, and social workers, to oversee the establishment and operation of the team. The police station will provide officers specializing in abuse prevention.

The two organizations will build a joint response system to share information related to reports of domestic and sexual violence, and will strengthen their collaborative framework to protect and support victims and prevent recurrence.

Park Seungwon, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City, stated, "Through this cooperation, we will be able to respond quickly and provide integrated support for domestic and sexual violence, which will greatly help victims recover and prevent secondary harm. We will do our utmost to protect citizens from violence and crime and to create a happy city."

Yang Dongjae, Chief of Gwangmyeong Police Station, also commented, "With the launch of the Immediate Hope Team, victims of violence and their families will be able to receive faster and more specialized assistance. Through close cooperation, we will work to build a safe and trustworthy local community."