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No CCTVs and emergency bells installed at Han River parks

No CCTVs and emergency bells installed at Han River parks

Posted May. 24, 2016 07:41,   

Updated May. 24, 2016 07:48

한국어

Public toilets at Han River Parka, key resting spots in Seoul, have no surveillance cameras aimed at preventing crimes. There is no emergency bell either, which people can use when they feel threats or when other urgent situations happen.

According to the Dong-A Ilbo's safety check survey at 148 public toilets in Han River parks Monday, no CCTVs have been installed at the entrance. Cameras for operation of the parks and for security were found to have been installed in some walkways and around convenient stores. "There is no room to install CCTVs additionally due to huge costs in remodeling old toilets," said the Han River Park Headquarters under the Seoul Metropolitan Government. CCTVs have not been found in many public toilets in parks in regional areas.

Social vulnerable including women are increasingly feel anxiety following the recent murder at a public toilet in southern Seoul. However, a similar case can occur anytime without a security plan in place for public toilets and others. Unisex public toilets in commercial buildings are also helpless to sexual crimes.

According to the Dong-A Ilbo reporting, 30 percent of public toilets in Seoul's congested areas of Gangnam, Jongno and Shinchon were ones shared by both men and women. According to Statistics Korea, the share of women who felt at unease from crime threats increased from 67.9 percent in 2010 to 70.6 percent in 2014. Fear among women has especially increased since the murder case in southern Seoul. Female Dong-A Ilbo reporters toured sites of potential crimes due to weak security facilities including Han River parks, public parking lots and old housing areas to check safety conditions there.



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