Seoul Police Chief "Regretful Response to Seodaemun Kidnapping Attempt... Comprehensive Measures Prepared"

[Financial News] Seoul police are implementing a comprehensive crime prevention plan for school routes over the next five weeks to alleviate parents' concerns heightened by the attempted kidnapping incident in Seodaemun-gu. Regarding the initial response of the local police station to the incident, they said, "We find it very regrettable."
Park Hyun-soo, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, announced at a regular briefing on the 8th that a comprehensive crime prevention plan for securing safety on school routes will be implemented from today until October 12, over five weeks. This comes as a response to criticism of the police's inadequate response to the recent attempted kidnapping incident in Seodaemun-gu.
The comprehensive plan focuses on △safety diagnosis of school routes △concentrated deployment of available personnel △strengthening response to child crime reports. Specifically, related agencies such as the police, district offices, and education offices will conduct a special safety diagnosis of school routes. The response will cover not only crimes but also traffic accidents and other disaster safety incidents.
On school routes, the police, along with the Green Mothers' Association and voluntary crime prevention teams, will be mobilized to the maximum extent. For child crime reports, the response level will be strengthened from the existing code 2 or higher reception to code 1 or higher reception. The police classify and respond to reports according to urgency in a '0~4 stage' code.
Acting Chief Park stated, "We should have excessively confirmed and reconfirmed child cases, but we find it very regrettable that we did not do so in the end."
Regarding the dismissal of the arrest warrant for the attempted kidnapper, he explained, "We are currently conducting forensic investigations on the suspects' mobile phones, and if additional charges are found, we plan to reapply for the warrant," adding that "the related investigation is ongoing."
Meanwhile, on the 28th of last month, near an elementary school and a public parking lot in Hong-eun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, a group of men in their 20s approached an elementary school student, saying "You're cute, I'll take you home," attempting to lure them. They testified during the police investigation that their motive for the crime was "just for fun."  


425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter