Following a series of attempted abductions, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to distribute “safety bells” to all elementary school students next year. The keychain-style device can be attached to a backpack, and when the button is pressed, it emits a warning sound of over 100 decibels to immediately alert people nearby to potential danger. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — A string of attempted child abductions in recent weeks has triggered a surge in demand for self-defense products among South Korean parents, with online marketplaces reporting sharp increases in sales.
According to e-commerce platform 11st, purchases of key personal safety items between September 2 and 11 jumped 2.5 times compared with the same period a month earlier, after news broke of an attempted abduction near an elementary school in Seoul’s Seodaemun District. Sales of personal alarms rose 141 percent, defense sprays 153 percent, and items such as batons and locks climbed 143 percent.
On another major open market, sales of “safety whistles” spiked more than sevenfold in a single day after reports of attempted abductions circulated. SSG.com also saw an 18 percent rise in self-defense product sales, with electronic whistles and stun devices among the top sellers.
As violent crimes continue to occur in succession, public anxiety is rising, driving greater interest in self-defense items such as whistles, alarms, and pepper spray. (Yonhap)
Search data on Naver reflected the heightened anxiety, with queries for self-defense goods up 32 percent since early September. Parents in their 30s and 40s accounted for most of the increase, with women making up a growing share.
The sudden rush follows multiple attempted abductions of elementary school students not only in Seoul but also in Gwangmyeong, Daegu, Jeju and other regions. Many incidents occurred near schools during commuting hours, further amplifying concerns.
Authorities have moved quickly to reassure parents. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has urged schools to ensure that younger children walk with guardians, while police announced plans to deploy more than 55,000 officers nationwide to patrol routes around 6,183 elementary schools during start and dismissal times.
The spike in purchases highlights how fears over child safety are reshaping consumer behavior, with parents also turning to location-tracking tags and other technology to monitor their children more closely.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
