Jeju Governor Assures Safety, Vows Increased Patrols and CCTV

Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong has moved to quell public anxieties about safety on the popular tourist island, acknowledging recent concerns amplified by a case where a missing person report was falsely closed.

“

Jeju is safe in my opinion. Of course, crime is not absent. As the region is vast, there are many places that are not safe.

Speaking in an interview, Governor Won stated that "stories not based on facts are circulating too much," expressing worry about the spread of "rumors" regarding crime on Jeju. He acknowledged that the recent incident, which occurred on a dark farm road, highlighted the need for improved safety measures.

“

We have created a plan to expand CCTV in those spaces and improve lighting.

To address these issues, the governor outlined a plan to expand CCTV installation in such areas and improve lighting. Nighttime patrols will also be intensified, and efforts will be made to improve mobile phone reception in areas with poor connectivity. He advised tourists to stay in well-lit areas and travel in groups for added safety, noting that Jeju has many places without adequate urban lighting or infrastructure.

“

We will also strengthen nighttime patrols and improve areas with poor mobile phone reception to ensure safety.

Governor Won emphasized that while crime exists, Jeju's crime rate is not exceptionally high when considering its large floating population of tourists. He plans to share official statistics with individuals who have raised safety concerns, such as medical journalist Hong Hye-geol, who had previously advised against solo travel on the island. The governor also vowed to implement internal system improvements to prevent the recurrence of mishandling cases, including establishing manuals for prompt search operations.

“

We need to create an internal system so that such incidents do not happen.