As Yangcheon-gu works to strengthen its crime-prevention safety network through round-the-clock CCTV monitoring, Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the U-Yangcheon Integrated Control Center in Mokdong on Monday afternoon to review the linkage between Seoul's "Donghang Ansimbel" safe-return alert service and the district's CCTV control center, and to inspect the emergency response system.
In 2023, the district expanded and relocated the U-Yangcheon Integrated Control Center, combining integrated monitoring with smart-city services into a unified urban control facility that operates around the clock for residents' safety. During Monday's visit, officials were briefed on how the Donghang Ansimbel system works and on the procedures followed after an emergency call is received.
The Donghang Ansimbel is a safety device supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to protect residents from random-motive crimes and other everyday dangers. Linked to the Seoul Ansimi app, it triggers an alarm when the user holds the emergency button for three seconds, simultaneously sending a report to the district's CCTV control center. The center checks the caller's location and nearby CCTV footage and, when necessary, coordinates a police response.
Yangcheon-gu operates a dedicated 24-hour Ansimi monitoring unit in connection with the system. Four operators work in three shifts, handling homecoming-safety monitoring and emergency call responses. When an emergency occurs, they use the caller's location data and CCTV footage to assess and respond to the situation. Over the past three years, the unit has conducted 1,080 homecoming-safety monitoring sessions.
Alongside the integrated monitoring system, the district has applied an intelligent selective-monitoring system to more than 90 percent of its CCTV cameras to improve operational efficiency.
The district has also consistently expanded its CCTV network. The number of cameras grew 38.8 percent, from 3,650 in 2022 to 5,066 in 2025. The expansion has strengthened round-the-clock monitoring for crimes and safety incidents and laid the groundwork for rapid responses to dangerous situations.
The district is also pursuing community-level projects aimed at crime prevention and improving residents' sense of safety. Key initiatives include installing ground lighting in dark alleyways to create safer walking routes home, providing safety equipment to single-person households and victims of stalking and other crimes, and operating secure parcel-delivery lockers. A citizen surveillance team checks public restrooms and other facilities for hidden cameras, and violence-prevention campaigns are held regularly.
Yangcheon-gu plans to continue strengthening its CCTV monitoring and emergency response capabilities centered on the U-Yangcheon Integrated Control Center, and to pursue crime-prevention projects that residents can feel in their daily lives, with the goal of building a safer living environment.
"Residents' safety is the most fundamental value that must be guaranteed in everyday life, so we will keep reinforcing the safety net to ensure rapid responses in emergencies," District Mayor Lee said. "We will continue working to make Yangcheon a safe district where every resident can go about their daily life with peace of mind."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
