South Korea’s surprising new face of public safety: dog walkers
Forget traditional neighbourhood watches – Seoul is now enlisting canine companions and their owners to keep the streets safe
The joggers are part of Running Patrol, a city-supported initiative that enlists local running clubs to act as informal safety patrols. Launched on Thursday, the programme reflects a broader shift in Seoul’s approach to community policing – away from rigid, top-down patrols and towards lifestyle-based engagement led by citizens.
“It’s not just about preventing crime,” said Han Seung-woo, 39, a member of the Be Ready Running Club. “It’s about doing something I enjoy while contributing to my community.”
The running club project is the latest extension of Seoul’s Citizen Patrol programme, an umbrella initiative with roots dating back to the 1950s. What began as conventional neighbourhood watches – often led by middle-aged residents in neon vests – is now being transformed, with dog walkers and joggers becoming the new face of community vigilance. F
These patrols work as they revolve around familiar everyday routines, according to Park Junhwi, a researcher at the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice. “They lower the barrier to entry while still strengthening public order,” Park said.
