Safety methods are becoming 'smarter'

By Kim Eun-ji

Women and children who walk alone at night do not have to load their bags with pepper sprays or electric shock devices _ they can simply download smart phone applications or enroll in mobile service plans that will “protect them.”

Mobile service providers SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ have introduced programs that allow parents to check where their children are and inform them if they leave a preset safety zone, for under 10,000 won per month.

SK Telecom also attaches a green button to children’s smart phone earphones so children can connect to a designated contact person, if needed.

Other protective apps include “Lady Guard” and “Return Home Helper,” which provides services such as calling a preset number if the user stays in the a same place for too long, ringing the phone without any caller, and sending taxi vehicle plate numbers to friends.

Another app, “Neukdaeda” or “that’s wolf” alerts phone holders when they are within 50 meters of a sexual offenders’ residence.

Park Dong-kyun, head of the Korean Association for Public Security Administration, said the rise in such safety-related devices highlights how insecure the citizens are, but also warned the users.

“It’s a great misconception to think you’ll be safe with the devices, and people must keep in mind that using the devices may prompt the attacker even more,” said Park.