The Seoul district took honors in the vulnerable-population protection category at the 11th Korea Crime Prevention Awards, drawing praise for lifestyle-focused safety policies including safe-return escort services, illegal filming inspections and residential security support for single-person households.
Seoul's Gangdong-gu has received a commendation from the Ministry of Interior and Safety in recognition of its lifestyle-focused crime prevention policies and efforts to protect socially vulnerable residents.
The district won the minister's commendation in the vulnerable-population protection category at the 11th Korea Crime Prevention Awards, co-hosted by the Korean National Police Agency and other organizations on Thursday.
Organizers cited the district's construction of a comprehensive safety net spanning crime prevention through victim support, as well as its establishment of a community-centered crime prevention framework built on cooperation among residents, police and local government.
Working with the Gangdong Police Station, the district has pursued a range of crime prevention projects — including safe-return escort services using a dedicated mobile app and volunteer scouts, regular inspections of public restrooms for illegal recording devices, and the provision of residential security equipment for single-person households and stalking victims.
The district also operates 16 secure parcel lockers across the area so residents can receive deliveries safely.
Gangdong-gu is particularly noted for running the country's only district-operated domestic violence counseling center, which provides rehabilitation treatment for perpetrators and psychological recovery support for victims, reflecting the district's focus on post-incident recovery and recidivism prevention.
The award reflects the district's integrated safety policy, which goes beyond routine patrols and enforcement to proactively protect crime-vulnerable groups and help victims return to their daily lives.
"This award is the result of the dedication of those who have worked alongside us in the field to keep our residents safe," Gangdong-gu District Mayor Lee Su-hee said. "We will continue to watch carefully so that no small warning sign goes unnoticed and that support reaches residents who need it in time."
Gangdong-gu said it plans to strengthen cooperation with the Gangdong Police Station and steadily expand resident-participatory crime prevention projects and victim support programs to build a safer community.
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