SNU to hire its first women security guards

Seoul National University will position women security guards on campus for the first time in its history in an effort to strengthen campus security for female students and faculty.

With the rising number of female students and faculty, the school decided to employ two female security guards, the university said Thursday.

“There is an increasing number of female students returning home at night after studying at libraries on campus,” said Shin Jae-hong, director in charge of school management. “Some students ask for help as they worry about their safety when returning home from school. If a female security guard goes to help them, it will be a great relief for them.”

The university is the only public school to have female security guards in the nation. The 12 male security guards on the campus make 24-hour patrols along with standby duty during day and night.

Unlike security guards at banks or public agencies who usually prevent outsiders trespassing, the role of campus guards is wider as they are responsible for the overall safety of students and faculties.

Security guards carry out duties as police in the area, where they receive the supervision of the local police chief at the expense of the institution which hires them.

Two women security guards will begin their service in the second semester.

The university gives students a lift home at night if they want a security guards’ escort. The school has recently installed intercoms in case of emergency and CCTV cameras which record 23 neighborhood areas.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)