Estec System holds self-defense training for Kyung Hee University Medical Center staff

Estec System said Tuesday it had conducted crisis-response and self-defense training for medical staff at Kyung Hee University Medical Center, preparing them for unexpected situations such as verbal abuse and physical assault by patients and their guardians.

The training was held in two sessions — on Sept. 11 and Friday — for doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. Participants practiced defensive techniques for escaping physical threats and learned how to respond to verbal abuse and intimidation.

Rather than focusing on how to subdue an aggressor, the sessions emphasized quickly recognizing danger, minimizing confrontation and securing a safe distance. Scenarios were modeled on situations that can arise in real clinical settings, allowing staff to practice responses firsthand.

Violence in medical facilities is also subject to legal regulation. The current Medical Service Act prohibits assaulting or threatening medical professionals, nursing assistants, medical technicians or patients at locations where medical care is provided. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has also identified verbal abuse, physical assault and drunken disturbances as behaviors to be eradicated in the interest of safer emergency rooms, as part of its efforts to improve healthcare culture.

Estec System provides security services at major medical institutions across South Korea, including tertiary hospitals. The company currently has about 1,500 security guards deployed at hospital sites nationwide. The training drew on field-response experience accumulated through the company's hospital security operations.

"Security is not just about responding after an incident occurs — it is equally important to build the capacity to recognize risks in advance and minimize harm," an Estec System official said. "We will continue to enhance the safety of our customers and on-site staff through specialized safety education tailored to the characteristics of medical settings and other workplaces."