Jeju Province Overhauls Monthly Meeting... All-Out Push for Solo Traveler Safety Network

Regular Policy Meeting Urgently Converted to "Safe Strategy Meeting"

Dedicated Safety Measures for Solo Travelers Launched

Autonomous Police Drone Patrols and Nighttime Lighting Reinforced

Amid heightened anxiety among residents and tourists due to recent cases of missing persons, fatalities, and public distrust in law enforcement, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on September 2 urgently converted its regular monthly policy meeting into a "Safe Jeju Strategy Meeting." Breaking away from previously criticized responses such as telling people to "travel in groups," the province decided to focus all efforts on establishing an on-site safety net. This includes intensive support for solo travelers, expanded patrols by the autonomous police, and improvements in nighttime pedestrian lighting.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province held its regular monthly policy meeting on the 2nd, which was abruptly converted into the "Safe Jeju Strategy Meeting," deciding to focus all efforts on establishing a field-sensing safety network by concentrating support for solo travelers, expanding patrols by the autonomous police, and improving night pedestrian lighting. Provided by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.

According to the province on September 2, the government changed the September monthly policy meeting, held that morning at Tamla Hall of the provincial government building, into an emergency “Safe Jeju Strategy Meeting” and reviewed the current implementation of comprehensive safety measures in everyday life and tourism sectors.

Wiheon Gon, Governor of Jeju, stated at the meeting, “Recent reports of missing persons and public safety concerns are causing increased anxiety among local residents and even tourists visiting Jeju. If trust in safety is shaken, it can impact not only residents’ daily lives, but also Jeju’s tourism industry and the regional economy as a whole,” expressing a sense of urgency.

Especially during the meeting, in an apparent effort to address the criticism he faced for previously saying in a broadcast interview to “travel in groups”—which was widely seen as shifting the burden of safety—systematic safety management measures for solo travelers were highlighted as a key agenda item.

The governor presented the "Solo Visitor Safety Service" at the Jeju Olle Call Center as a best practice and instructed that concrete safety support measures be crafted specifically for individual travelers.

Additionally, the governor directed both city administrations to activate joint public-private patrols in safety-vulnerable areas such as Olle trails and Oreum hills. This will involve cooperation from local community centers at the town, township, and district level, as well as civilian volunteer patrol groups.

The Jeju Autonomous Police Agency, responsible for on-site public safety, has also entered an emergency response mode. The agency will significantly expand multidimensional patrols using foot patrols, patrol cars, and drones, focusing on Olle trails, coastal areas, secluded Oreum hills, and major alley commercial districts.

In addition, following issues raised during the governor’s nighttime patrol in Yeondong the previous evening, the province will seek to improve conditions for nighttime walking in urban areas. Efforts will involve raising the brightness and reducing the spacing of aging streetlights in residential and commercial zones, as well as gradually improving visibility at poorly lit roundabouts through lighting renovation projects.

The province plans to maintain a robust response posture by operating comprehensive safety, medical, and transportation control centers during the upcoming Chuseok holiday (September 24–27) and the nationwide autumn sports competitions, when large numbers of visitors are expected.

Governor Wi emphasized, “Please make sure that each department closely examines and takes all necessary actions at the field level to prioritize the safety of residents and visitors.”

With Jeju’s administrative system now fully reorganized around safety following the previous night's foot patrol and this province-wide meeting, attention is focused on whether Jeju can move beyond criticisms of complacency and actually restore public trust in local law enforcement.

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