[Number 112] Police officer protecting residents and even foreign visitors near the presidential office

[Financial News] "I protect not only the presidential office but also the safety of local residents and foreign tourists."On the 10th, Inspector Lee Kang-yeol of Cheongun Police Box at Jongno Police Station in Seoul said, "Cheongun Police Box is the only police box in the country that has jurisdiction over the president's office," explaining the uniqueness of his post.
Lee joined the police in 1998. After serving at the 202nd Security Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, he was assigned to Cheongun Police Box in the second half of 2025. His duties include responding to 112 emergency calls, handling rally notifications, patrolling to protect Gyeongbokgung Palace, and monitoring the area using drones.
Lee became even busier after the presidential office was moved back to Cheong Wa Dae on December 29 last year. Before the relocation, Cheongun Police Box mainly handled public safety in daily life and security for Cheong Wa Dae facilities. Since the move, however, officers there now also conduct joint patrols around Cheong Wa Dae, process notifications for rallies and demonstrations, respond to noise complaints, and manage people who stay long-term in specific locations.
Around Cheong Wa Dae, it is easy to find traces of protest camps, such as tents set up by demonstrators who stay overnight. Managing these sites so that people can protest safely is also part of the police officers' job.
Lee noted, "As the number of rallies held around Cheong Wa Dae has increased, we have been receiving a steady stream of complaints about protest noise." He continued, "We are managing the noise levels by measuring decibels (dB) and taking appropriate action." He added, "Even so, when complaints come in, we also try to persuade the protesters by asking, 'Could you lower the volume just a little more?' and encourage them to reduce the noise."
The area near Cheongun Police Box also sees a high number of foreign tourists. Cheong Wa Dae itself is a symbolic space, and nearby Bukchon Hanok Village and the Seochon neighborhood have become popular attractions among foreign visitors, increasing foot traffic. The Gwanghwamun area is also close to Myeong-dong, Insa-dong, Ikseon-dong, and Cheonggyecheon Stream. According to Seoul Real-Time Urban Data, the number of non-residents around Cheong Wa Dae is about 20% higher than the resident population, showing how popular it is with tourists.
As a result, officers often have to help foreign tourists who get lost or struggle with communication. Lee recalled, "Last year, there was a mother and son who had come from Vietnam on a family trip. The mother, who was in her 60s, was looking for her son in his 30s, and we figured out the situation using a translation app." He explained, "After making inquiries with the travel agency, we were able to reunite the family."
Lee said he hopes to continue making the Cheong Wa Dae area a safe space. "The people who live here and the citizens who come to hold rallies are all our people," he said. "My goal is to ensure, from the citizens' point of view, that everyone can go about their daily lives as peacefully as possible."
He went on to say, "I work with the mindset of properly introducing Korea to foreign visitors who come to the Cheong Wa Dae area, and I will always do my best to maintain public safety so that everyone can feel secure."

jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter