The Seoul city government said on the 3rd that it will provide an additional 100,000 portable keyrings called "安心Help Me to protect my safety," which allow users to make emergency calls by pressing a button.
安心Help Me is linked with the Seoul Ansim-i application operated by the Seoul city government. In normal times, it is carried on a bag like a keyring, and in an emergency, if the "emergency call" button is pressed for 3 seconds, it emits an alarm and connects to the district closed-circuit (CC)TV control center.
The district control center that receives the report checks the situation through the location of the report and nearby CCTV. After that, police stationed in the control center take immediate action, such as requesting nearby patrol cars to be dispatched. In addition, the location and rescue request are sent by text message to a guardian predesignated in the Seoul Ansim-i app.
The Seoul city government doubled the supply this year, noting that applications for 安心Help Me closed on the day they opened last year. To focus support on actual users, it will provide the devices free of charge to applicants among socially vulnerable groups, such as middle and high school students who live in Seoul or have Seoul as their living area, while applying a self-payment of 7,000 won for other applicants.
Applications for 安心Help Me can be made on the Seoul city government website until 6 p.m. on the 10th. Anyone who lives in Seoul or works or attends school in Seoul can apply. Those in the Seoul living area must submit proof of employment or enrollment when applying.
Because the device is used in conjunction with the Seoul Ansim-i app, a smartphone is required to use 安心Help Me. As some older phones and kids' phones may not be compatible, applicants should check before applying.
Ma Chae-suk, head of the Seoul Women and Family Policy Office, said, "We hope citizens apply for 安心Help Me so it can help ease everyday anxiety and improve safety."