310,000 Police Officers Deployed for Lunar New Year Security...“Holiday Ended Without Major Incidents”

According to Financial News, the police announced that they implemented "special security measures" in preparation for increased demand for public safety during the Lunar New Year holiday, and as a result were able to maintain a stable holiday security situation without any major incidents or accidents.
According to the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) on the 18th, calls to the 112 Police Emergency Number during this Lunar New Year holiday increased by 8.6% compared with a year earlier. Crime-related reports rose by 14.1%, public order reports by 11.3%, and traffic-related reports by 19.3%, indicating an overall increase in key security demands. Average daily traffic volume on the Gyeongbu Expressway reached 5,638,000 vehicles, up 22.6% from the previous year.
To respond to these conditions, the KNPA concentrated a total of 310,621 officers (an average of 31,062 per day) at front-line public safety sites nationwide. Riot police units, municipal police, the Mobile Patrol Unit, detectives, and traffic police worked together in a coordinated, all-out response.
Riot police units, in line with a shift in the paradigm for handling assemblies and demonstrations, were reassigned to public safety sites, with an average of 38 units and 3,040 officers deployed per day. They expanded their role in public safety by conducting visible patrols and on-site responses, focusing on crime-prone areas and locations with large crowds.
In addition, the Crime Prevention Diagnosis Team (CPO) inspected and improved 3,304 crime-prone locations, and carried out advance monitoring of 20,259 individuals considered at risk of reoffending in relationship-based crimes. The police also designated 4,306 high-risk individuals for intensive management.
To respond to serious crimes, the number of detectives on night duty was increased by 43.1% compared with normal periods, enabling rapid arrests in major cases and preventing further harm. Centered on the 112 Situation Room, all departments maintained an all-out response system capable of immediate action, leading to the arrest of 7,921 suspects in crimes such as violence, robbery, and theft.
The police also concentrated traffic police in congested sections on homebound and return routes and in crowded areas, managing traffic flow while simultaneously cracking down on traffic violations. Safety activities were strengthened at wildfire sites, local festivals, airports, bus terminals, and other multi-use facilities, as well as at locations vulnerable to terrorism.
A KNPA official stated, "During this Lunar New Year holiday, by deploying additional riot police units and concentrating a total of more than 310,000 officer workdays in the field, and by strengthening advance inspections of crime-prone factors and visible patrol activities, we were able to maintain stable public safety without major incidents or accidents." The official added, "We will continue to pursue prevention-focused policing to build a safe society where the public can feel secure."
welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yoo-ha Reporter