“I can't ride my bike and play”—a child's urgent call... Lives saved by 112

[Financial News]“I can't ride my bike today. Dad says I can't.”
An elementary school-aged boy repeated the same words during a call to the 112 situation room. Inspector Son Seok of the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency's 112 Comprehensive Situation Room, who took the report, judged that it might be a signal for help rather than a simple prank call.
Inspector Son kept asking questions as if chatting with a friend so people nearby wouldn't find out that the child had called for help, and confirmed that the boy might have been hit by his father. Officers who arrived afterward rescued the child safely and separated him from his father.
The National Police Agency held a ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of 112 Day at its headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 2nd and unveiled “2026: People Seen Through Sound,” which features examples of responses in the field like this one.
The collection recounts officers' experiences saving lives or preventing people from becoming victims of crime while receiving and handling 112 emergency calls. The police published it to showcase the work of officers in the field who handle about 18 million 112 calls a year.
The collection also includes the case of Police Officer Kim Yeong-du of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency's 112 Comprehensive Situation Room, who rescued a foreigner in distress.
At the time, a foreign tourist who had lost their way on Seoraksan Mountain called 112 for help, but a language barrier and difficulties determining their location made the situation challenging. Unable to determine the caller's location because they were using an overseas eSIM device, the caller described their location as “Gulganggeol” or “Gumganggeol.”
Officer Kim connected an interpreting service and then asked the caller to say the letters in the place name one by one. Using the final clue, “cave,” he searched and discovered that the location was Geumganggul Cave on Seoraksan Mountain.
The police narrowed the caller's location to within 500 meters of Geumganggul Cave and instructed them to use a whistle and flashlight as the rescue team approached. The caller was found by the rescue team and made it safely back down the mountain.
The ceremony was held under the theme “112 is always by the public's side.” Attendees included winners of the 6th Proper 112 Reporting Contest, officers recognized for outstanding field response, and representatives of agencies that jointly respond to emergency calls.
A total of 18 people won awards in the contest, including Kim Tae-gyun in the video category and Yu Sang-won in the general poster category. The police also presented commendations and letters of appreciation to 18 people, including the 112 Officer of the Year, officers recognized for outstanding field responses to emergency calls, and contributors to cooperation among relevant agencies.
The police are also pursuing institutional improvements to strengthen their ability to respond to 112 calls. On the 19th of last month, they rolled out an automated access system nationwide so responding officers can quickly enter apartment buildings.
The system automatically unlocks entrance doors when linked to police-issued mobile phones, and is available in about 2.55 million (20.7%) of the 12.33 million households in multi-unit residential buildings nationwide.
On the same day, the 112 emergency call portal and mobile app were also revamped so callers can check the progress of their cases themselves. The scope of text notifications informing callers of case outcomes and other developments was also expanded.
The police plan to build a next-generation, AI-based 112 system in stages to improve the accuracy and speed of situation assessments and field responses.
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Jong-chul said, “For the past 69 years, 112 has fulfilled its role as a dependable emergency bell, protecting the public around the clock, 365 days a year, from right by their side. Going forward, we will listen even more closely to the public's desperate calls and, by introducing advanced systems, firmly protect public safety and the peace of everyday life.”

[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter