Dongjak-gu District Mayor Ryu Sam-young. [Dongjak-gu]
Dongjak-gu District Mayor Ryu Sam-young. [Dongjak-gu]

Seoul's Dongjak-gu said Tuesday it held a joint simulation drill with the Dongjak Police Station and Dongjak Fire Department to prepare for so-called "random-motive crimes" — offenses targeting unspecified individuals without clear rational cause. The drill was proposed by District Mayor Ryu Sam-young in response to growing social concern over such attacks.

The exercise took place Monday morning at 8 a.m. in the general civil affairs office on the second floor of the Dongjak-gu district office, with about 70 participants from the district office, police station and fire department taking part in a high-tension, true-to-life scenario.

The drill simulated a situation in which an unusual visitor enters the busy civil affairs office and threatens residents and staff with a bladed weapon.

The exercise walked through a full sequence of coordinated responses: activating the emergency alarm and notifying police and fire services immediately upon the incident, broadcasting an alert over the public address system, guiding staff and residents to safety, subduing the suspect upon police arrival, providing emergency first aid to the injured by fire department personnel, and restoring order at the scene.

Securing the safety of residents visiting the office was the top priority. The drill focused particularly on controlling access to the scene and swiftly directing evacuations — steps aimed at preserving the critical window of time to minimize casualties in a real incident.

Through the drill, the district aims to sharpen its staff's on-site response capabilities while strengthening coordination with police, fire and other relevant agencies, with the goal of creating a safe environment where residents can use public services with confidence.

"Thorough advance preparation and a swift initial response are the keys to dealing with random-motive crimes that strike without warning," District Mayor Ryu said. "There is no value more important than the lives and safety of our residents. We will do our utmost to build a safe Dongjak-gu where residents can feel secure, through close cooperation with relevant agencies."


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