Oh Se-hoon visits Yangcheon-gu CCTV control center Monday

2026 model features grip-tok and key-ring designs

630,000 units distributed so far; 1.3 million targeted by 2030

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon monitors screens at the Donghang Ansim Bell CCTV integrated control center in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on Monday. [Yonhap]
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon monitors screens at the Donghang Ansim Bell CCTV integrated control center in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on Monday. [Yonhap]

Amid growing public anxiety over a string of violent crimes and stalking cases, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday it is working to make the city safer around the clock through its "Donghang Ansim Bell" ("safety companion bell") personal emergency alert program.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the Yangcheon-gu CCTV control center Monday afternoon to personally inspect the Donghang Ansim Bell monitoring and response system, which is linked to surveillance cameras across the city.

The connected version of the Donghang Ansim Bell integrates with Seoul's citywide CCTV network and the Ansimi safety app. When an emergency alert is triggered anywhere in Seoul, the CCTV control center can verify the situation and dispatch police or take other swift action.

Pressing the bell sounds an alarm to warn nearby bystanders while simultaneously sending an emergency report to the control center, which then checks on the caller's safety. Footage from CCTV cameras near the caller is relayed to the center to pinpoint the caller's location, and real-time location updates are sent by text message to up to five designated guardians.

The city has begun distributing the redesigned 2026 model — formerly known as the Ansim Help Me — starting Monday, rolling it out sequentially to eligible recipients. The new model comes in two designs, a grip-tok attachment and a key ring, and in two versions: connected and non-connected. The connected version links to the Seoul Ansimi app; holding the emergency button for three seconds triggers an alarm and files a report with the local district's CCTV control center. Since the program launched, about 2,900 emergency reports have been filed, 54 of which resulted in a police dispatch.

The non-connected version, designed for elderly users and people with disabilities who may have difficulty using smartphone apps, sounds an alarm only and does not include a direct emergency-reporting function.

The broader "Seoul Ansim Bell" program comprises three types of devices: the Donghang Ansim Bell for all citizens, the Sosangong-in Ansim Bell for small business owners, and the Chodeung Ansim Bell for elementary school students.

Since the program's launch in 2024 through the end of September, the city has distributed a total of 630,000 Seoul Ansim Bell units. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to expand distribution, incorporating public feedback and on-the-ground demand, with a target of reaching 1.3 million units by 2030.

During his visit to the Yangcheon-gu control center, Oh observed a live demonstration of the full response chain — from the moment a Donghang Ansim Bell is pressed to how the report is received at the control center, how the caller's situation is assessed, and how field action is coordinated.

"As public anxiety grows in the wake of a series of violent crimes, Seoul will make citizen safety its top priority," Oh said. "I will continue to inspect operations on the ground so that the Seoul Ansim Bell can truly serve as a reliable safety net protecting citizens in moments of crisis, and work to build a Seoul where everyone can go about their daily lives with peace of mind."


ikson@heraldcorp.com