The outdoor pool at Yeouido Han River Park. (File photo — not directly related to this article.) [Seoul Metropolitan Government]
The outdoor pool at Yeouido Han River Park. (File photo — not directly related to this article.) [Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Autonomous Police Committee and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced Wednesday they will run a comprehensive summer safety campaign through the end of this month, citing the surge in outdoor activity and travel during the vacation and school-break season.

The campaign covers three areas: public safety, women and youth protection, and traffic safety. On the public safety front, police are stepping up patrols in entertainment and commercial districts and have designated unmanned stores and traditional markets as flexible patrol zones to deter crime. Officers will also be deployed at local festivals to manage crowds and inspect safety facilities.

Authorities are also preparing for summer weather emergencies such as heavy rain and heat waves. Police stations with jurisdiction over the Han River and other waterways will equip officers with water-rescue gear and inspect flood-prone areas and sites at risk of water-related accidents.

In the women and youth protection area, police are inspecting restrooms and changing rooms at public facilities to prevent illegal filming and deter sex crimes during the summer. Officers dedicated to women and youth issues have been deployed at six Han River park pools and water-play areas to check for hidden cameras.

Police are also working to identify at-risk youth who are away from school and home during the break, providing tailored prevention education and conducting joint inspections of delinquency-prone areas with local governments and specialist agencies. The juvenile cyber-gambling self-reporting system is being used to connect young people with counseling and rehabilitation programs.

On traffic safety, police are conducting drunk-driving and drug-impaired driving crackdowns centered on the Gangnam area and other districts. Daytime enforcement focuses on 26 locations including school zones, Han River parks and amusement areas, while nighttime operations target expressway entry points and entertainment and commercial districts.

A pedestrian safety campaign targeting people aged 65 and older will continue through the end of next month. Officers will monitor and enforce jaywalking rules at 59 accident-prone locations and visit senior centers and welfare facilities to conduct traffic safety education.

"Summer is a time when increased movement and activity also bring greater risks of crime and accidents," said Lee Yong-pyo, chairman of the Seoul Autonomous Police Committee. "We will maintain airtight, sector-by-sector measures until the school break and vacation season ends, to make Seoul a city where residents can feel safe."


ken@heraldcorp.com