Busan is good

Busan hopes to earn WHO 'safe' certification in 2012

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Programs to help all residents feel secure

Busan plans to qualify for the WHO certificate as a safe city, protecting its citizens from various disasters and accidents and making the city a safe place for any visitor.

To achieve this goal, Busan city has finished collecting basic data on safe cities in advanced countries and plans to conduct research to estimate the current safety level of the region and set mid- to long-term plans. Those plans will be executed by a safe city committee. The city hopes to complete preparations and enact necessary laws and receive the WHO certificate by 2012.

To receive certificate as a safe city from the WHO, a city must establish mutual cooperation with members of the regional committee and implement programs to prevent damage continuously over the long term, to improve safety in weak spots, to research the frequency and causes of accidents and to participate in safe city networks throughout the world.

The WHO has concluded that many accidents and disasters can be prevented, and only happen because of the indifference and selfishness of local society. It has been offering the safe city certification to prevent accidents and reduce attendant economic losses.

As of the end of last year 150 cities in 26 countries had been certified, and 105 cities in 23 countries are preparing for certification.

In Korea four cities: Suwon, Gyeonggi-do (2002); Jeju (2007); Songpa-gu District in Seoul (2008), and Wonju, Gangwon (2008) have been certified.

Suwon, the first Korean city certified, instituted 38 separate programs and has reduced the death rate from car accidents to 9.8 out of every 100,000 people in 2005, compared to 23 in 1999.

The source of news : Dynamic Busan