Siheung City Pursues Reaccreditation as an International Safe City with Integrated Safety Policy Achievements

Siheung City Pursues Reaccreditation as an International Safe City

From Traffic Safety to Senior and Violence Prevention

Siheung City Builds a Robust Safety Net

From Delivery Riders to Seniors

Spotlight on Siheung’s Safe City Model

Siheung City in Gyeonggi Province, which is currently pursuing reaccreditation as an International Safe City, is further elevating its status as a safe city based on the tangible results of citizen-centered safety policies.

Siheung City held the final report meeting for the International Safe City Project research service on May 12. Provided by Siheung City

According to Siheung City on June 1, the city, which obtained its first International Safe City certification in 2022, is accelerating efforts to enhance its safety system with the goal of obtaining second-term reaccreditation this year.

On May 12, the city held the ‘Final Report Meeting for the International Safe City Project Implementation Diagnosis and Performance Evaluation Research Service’ and reviewed the outcomes of safety initiatives in six areas: traffic safety, fall prevention, suicide prevention, industrial safety, disaster safety, and violence prevention. Based on this, Siheung City established a roadmap for reaccreditation and plans to achieve reaccreditation within this year through a document review in July and an in-person evaluation by international judges in November.

The International Safe City designation is an international certification granted to cities where community members collaborate to create a safe environment, based on the 1989 Stockholm Declaration in Sweden. The core value is to recognize citizens' safety as a basic right and to establish a sustainable system for promoting safety.

Four Years as an International Safe City... Enhanced Local Safety through Action-Oriented Governance

Since receiving International Safe City certification, Siheung City has continuously promoted integrated safety policies, making safety a core value throughout its administration. As a result, key safety indicators have improved significantly.

As of 2024, the perpetrator death rate decreased from 0.2 to 0 per 100,000 people, and the pedestrian traffic accident injury rate dropped from 6.3 to 5.1 per 10,000 people. The rate of emergency services use for senior citizen falls decreased from 15.4 to 13.4 per 1,000 people, and the pedestrian traffic accident injury rate fell from 6.3 to 5.1 per 10,000 people. The rate of child abuse incidents also declined from 7.1 to 5.5 cases per 1,000 children.

These achievements stem from the establishment of a robust safety governance system based on public-private cooperation. Centered on working councils, Siheung City has implemented a virtuous cycle from identifying safety issues to planning and execution, establishing a collaborative structure involving government agencies, public institutions, private organizations, and citizens.

In addition, the city has worked to strengthen the capabilities of all community members through education, roundtable discussions, and workshops, enabling everyone to enhance their understanding of and expertise in safety.

Siheung City is holding the launching ceremony of the Delivery Rider Safety Keepers on June 2, 2025. Provided by Siheung City.

Rapidly Growing Platform Economy... Protecting 'Safety on the Road'

In the area of traffic safety, Siheung City is operating the ‘Delivery Rider Safety Protectors’ program in response to the recent surge in motorcycle accidents due to the rapidly growing delivery industry. In 2024, the injury rate for motorcycle traffic accidents was 7.9 per 10,000 people, which is 1.5 to 2 times higher than other types of traffic accidents.

This program encourages delivery workers—who are at high risk for accidents—to take an active role in spreading a culture of safety. The eight Delivery Rider Safety Protectors selected last year have participated in initial responses, reporting, and rescue activities in the event of accidents, as well as in eliminating everyday safety hazards such as road damage and illegal parking, thereby strengthening the community safety net.

To encourage continued engagement, the city has introduced incentive programs such as activity allowances, further promoting the spread of a safety culture.

A City Where Seniors Are Safe... Focus on Everyday Safety

With the rising proportion of residents aged 65 and older due to population aging, preventing accidents among seniors has become an increasingly important issue. Although it is essential to provide safe housing environments for elderly people living alone and those in vulnerable groups, the existing home-based care system has its limitations.

To provide integrated support for housing improvement, health management, and social relationship-building, Siheung City has established ‘Senior Welfare Housing.’ This combines residential and welfare functions to create an integrated living environment and provides safety and health services to resident seniors. The city has installed various facilities and systems in living spaces to prevent falls, operates health classes for fall and depression prevention, and is strengthening preventative responses to both physical and emotional risk factors. In December, construction is scheduled to begin on new Senior Welfare Housing in the Hajung District, which is expected to accelerate the creation of customized integrated housing and welfare models for seniors.

The city is also expanding counseling services to prevent suicide among the elderly. Siheung City operates professional counselors and conversation companion volunteers, offering individual and group counseling and psychological assessments, and is reinforcing preventive activities through collaborative networks with organizations related to elderly welfare.

Siheung City held the 2nd Safety City Working Council on April 27. Photo by Siheung City

Domestic Violence Threatening the Community... Building a Safety Net from Counseling to Protection

Siheung City is also dedicated to building a social safety net for the prevention of domestic and sexual violence. If systematic protection and support are not provided from the crisis stage, victims may suffer not only physical harm but also long-term mental health issues, making proactive prevention and response essential.

Siheung City provides counseling, legal support, and medical expense assistance to victims through its integrated domestic and sexual violence counseling center. Last year, the center handled 4,054 counseling cases and provided 3,350 support referrals.

The city also operates shelters for victims of domestic violence, providing accommodation, psychological therapy, and counseling services to victims and their children, as well as vocational training and social adaptation programs to support their independence.

These efforts are being recognized externally as well. Last year, Siheung City was selected as the top-performing institution in the disaster management evaluation among 340 disaster management agencies nationwide, demonstrating its competitiveness as a safe city.

A Siheung City official stated, "Reaccreditation as an International Safe City is another opportunity to validate our ongoing commitment to making citizen safety our top priority," adding, "We will continue to implement safety policies that citizens can truly feel, making Siheung an even safer city."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.