The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 11th that in response to the recent spate of crimes targeting children, it will expand the distribution of ‘Safety Bell’ devices, which were previously limited to 1st and 2nd graders in elementary school, to all grades starting next year. As a result, approximately 360,000 elementary students in Seoul will be able to wear the ‘Safety Bell’ during their commute to and from school.
Additionally, the city government plans to provide 100,000 units of ‘Safety Help Me’ devices for teenagers and general citizens, and 10,000 units of ‘Safety Beacons’ for sole proprietors this year. The city will expand the ‘Daily Safety Project,’ which distributes customized safety equipment to various groups such as children, teenagers, general citizens, and sole proprietors.
According to police statistics, the number of violent crimes against children under 13 increased by 13%, from 1,514 cases in 2019 to 1,704 cases in 2023. Kidnappings also rose by 48%, from 138 cases to 204 cases in the same period.
The ‘Elementary Safety Bell’ emits a warning sound of over 100dB when the button is pressed in emergencies, which can be heard within a range of 50 to 70 meters. This year, it was distributed to 1st and 2nd graders in all 606 elementary schools, and in a satisfaction survey involving 6,325 parents and teachers, 82% stated it was helpful.
The ‘Safety Help Me’ device, when activated, sounds an alarm and connects to the district’s CCTV control center. Simultaneously, an alert with the user’s current location and rescue request is sent to up to five pre-designated guardians. Last year, the city distributed 50,000 devices and plans to supply an additional 100,000 in the latter half of this year. In a user survey, 90.1% said it helped alleviate their fears.
The ‘Safety Beacon’ is a first-of-its-kind safety device for one-person stores in the country, introduced last year. Comprising an emergency bell, beacon, and smart hub, the system triggers an emergency report to the CCTV control center by flashing the beacon and sounding a siren in case of a crisis. Since its introduction in July last year, it has been activated for real reports 33 times, and 94.1% of users reported it was effective in reducing their fears.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, “There have been attempts to commit crimes against children recently. We will prevent harm through alarm systems and enable vulnerable people to protect themselves.”
