Seoul to expand security guard service for women

Seoul City is expected to expand its public security guard service for women returning home at night that has attracted more than 11,000 users since it started in June.

Once a woman requests the service via the 120 public call center or local district office 30 minutes before she arrives at the subway or bus station near her home, two “public security agents” arrive to accompany her.

The service operates between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. on weekdays.

Having started in 15 Seoul districts on a trial basis, the service receives 380 calls a day on average. Women in Yeongdeungpo used the service the most, followed by those in Jongno, Gangdong and Dobong, a city official said.

It is also a job creation project, paying the security agents 620,000 won ($577) a month, extra night pay and offering four major insurance benefits.

The agents also patrol neighborhoods to prevent potential offenses.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of the guards themselves, however.

Of the total 495 security guards, 70 percent are women, with half of those in their 40s and 50s. Patrolling in groups of two, they wear yellow vests and only possess a whistle and glow stick.

“The budget for this year is very tight so we cannot afford everything. Plus, the safe home service is only a trial project this year. Once it becomes a regular policy next year, we will work on measures for better safety,” said the city official.

Seoul City is considering panic buttons that would request immediate help from security guard firms. The city is also planning to create a cooperative system with district police.

The city will decide whether to make the service a regular policy after discussing the overall performance of 15 districts at the end of this year.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)