Seocho-gu Moves to Expand Safety CCTV Network Along Children's School Routes

Seocho-gu in Seoul is moving to strengthen its local safety network by installing new security cameras at seven locations in child protection zones and around elementary schools, aiming to create safer commuting conditions for children.

The district has each year pursued CCTV installation projects focused on crime-prone areas such as residential alleyways and commercial districts. This year, it plans to secure additional national and city government funding to expand safety infrastructure along children's school routes, minimize blind spots in its surveillance network and build a more comprehensive CCTV safety net.

Two cameras near Yangjae Elementary School and Yangjae Byeolha Daycare Center were already installed by late May, funded by a 36 million won ($23,400) special grant from the Ministry of Interior and Safety. Alongside this, five additional sites — including Seoil Elementary School and Bangbae Elementary School — have been selected for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's integrated safety smart pole project, receiving a metropolitan subsidy of 250 million won, with completion expected by the end of August.

The integrated safety smart poles combine multiple smart technologies targeting child protection zones and school surroundings: illegal parking and stopping enforcement cameras, intelligent CCTV, smart security lighting and public Wi-Fi. The district expects the poles to improve safety and pedestrian conditions along children's school routes while also significantly enhancing residents' convenience through a range of smart services.

To establish a standard model for the integrated safety smart poles, the district coordinated closely across relevant departments at every stage — from selecting installation sites and conducting field inspections to reviewing installation plans. Going forward, the district will continue to actively secure external funding from national and city sources to eliminate safety blind spots along children's school commute routes and in residential areas, and to further strengthen its CCTV safety net.

"Ensuring safe routes to and from school for children is the most important duty of local government for future generations," Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said. "We will build Seocho into a smart safe city — one where both children and parents can feel at ease — through smart safety infrastructure such as CCTV and the expansion of designated child protection zones."