Busan is good

“Citizens’ Attention Makes Busan Safer”… Busan Metropolitan City Selects 174 Outstanding Cases and Activities for the Safety Reporting Incentive Program

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it has selected 13 citizens for “Outstanding Report Cases” and 161 for “Outstanding Activities” in the first half of 2025 under its Safety Reporting Incentive Program.

The “Safety Reporting Incentive Program,” launched in 2018, aims to encourage citizens to identify and report daily hazards and signs of disaster through rewards. The program is divided into two categories: exemplary cases and outstanding activities.

From November 2024 to April 2025, a total of 414,995 reports were submitted via the Safety Report app and other channels. Of these, 174 individuals (13 for outstanding cases, 161 for outstanding activities) were selected and rewarded.

This year’s selected cases include not only reports of everyday safety hazards identified through the “eyes of citizens,” but also creative suggestions to solve safety issues.

The most outstanding report in the first half of the year was a citizen’s suggestion to install coconut fiber mats and anti-slip pavement on a steep residential slope in Jung-gu. This measure effectively prevented pedestrian slip accidents due to ice formation during winter.

Other notable cases included a report from Suyeong-gu about a damaged median barrier left unrepaired, which posed risks for traffic accidents and jaywalking. Thanks to the report, prompt repair work was carried out, preventing potentially serious accidents.

Among the best suggestions was a proposal to use drones for removing beehives from high-rise buildings or chimneys. As reports of beehives have increased with rising average temperatures, this drone-based approach earned high marks for ensuring the safety of emergency responders and reducing costs during hive removal operations.

Additional excellent reports involved hazards that could have led to serious accidents, including:
▲ exposed rebar on a road in Dong-gu
▲ potholes on roads in Busanjin-gu
▲ damaged metal structures along park walkways in Suyeong-gu

In the outstanding activity category, the most common reports were related to damaged “road facilities” such as sidewalks, streetlights, and potholes. Other frequent reports concerned hazards at construction sites and seasonal risks.

Notably, the most active citizen reporter submitted an impressive 581 safety-related reports in the first half of the year alone—earning the nickname “local safety guardian.” This is more than 19 times the average of 30 reports submitted by other outstanding participants.

The city plans to express gratitude by awarding monetary prizes to the 13 outstanding reporters and 161 active participants. It will also actively promote the exemplary cases to further encourage safety reporting by citizens.

Citizen participation saw a significant increase this year, with the number of reports in the first half rising by approximately 76,000 cases—a 22.5% increase compared to the same period last year.

In response to the public’s engagement and to accelerate the spread of safety culture, the city is expanding the annual reward recipients from around 130 to more than 400—tripling the scale.

Outstanding cases will be promoted through the city’s safety-focused social media accounts, “Safety Hi-So,” media advertisements, and other channels to raise public awareness and encourage further participation.

Kim Ki-hwan, Director General of the City’s Citizens Safety Office, stated, “The more than 410,000 reports submitted in just the first half of this year reflect the citizens’ deep care for their communities,” adding, “Citizens’ attention and sense of ownership are the greatest assets in building a safer Busan, and we urge everyone to continue actively using the Safety Report app.”