Mokpo, South Korea – The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency's Women and Youth Affairs Division announced on May 9th a collaborative agreement with the Mokpo Smile Center, a specialized trauma support organization for crime victims. The signing ceremony took place on May 8th at the provincial police agency in Naju, marking a significant step towards enhancing comprehensive support for individuals affected by crime in the Jeollanam-do province.

The Mokpo Smile Center, since its establishment in March 2021 under the leadership of Director Kim Kyung-hee, has been a crucial resource for crime victims experiencing psychological and emotional distress. The center provides a wide range of services, including psychological counseling, referrals for treatment, temporary housing, legal assistance, and social support. To date, it has provided a total of 18,889 instances of support, encompassing 10,992 cases of psychological assistance, 4,896 instances of temporary housing, 1,152 legal aid cases, and 1,168 social support interventions.

This partnership comes at a critical time, as there is a growing trend of victims suffering severe psychological trauma due to serious crimes such as stalking, domestic violence, and violent offenses. The agreement aims to create a more victim-centered support system that will effectively aid in the psychological stabilization and swift return to daily life for those affected by crime.

Under the newly established memorandum of understanding, the two organizations will jointly operate a comprehensive support system that includes:

Establishing a system for the early identification of crime victims and case referrals.
Strengthening professional psychological and counseling treatment support.
Jointly supporting safe temporary housing options.
This collaborative effort is expected to ensure that victims receive timely and tailored support from the initial stages of a crime, fostering their psychological well-being and facilitating their social reintegration.

The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency has already been actively involved in supporting crime victims through initiatives like the 'BomBomBom Support Team' and 'Women's Daily Life Guardian.' This formal agreement with the Mokpo Smile Center will further solidify these efforts by creating a more specialized and systematic integrated support system, spanning from early victim identification to psychological, legal, and livelihood stabilization assistance. This enhanced system is anticipated to effectively address the complex challenges faced by crime victims, allowing them to focus on recovery in a safe and stable environment.

Kim Kyung-hee, Director of the Mokpo Smile Center and a professor of Counseling Psychology at Dongshin University, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "I believe this agreement, which establishes an official cooperative framework with the police who play a vital role in building community safety, is very meaningful. We will do our utmost to provide more systematic and practical support to crime victims by actively utilizing the expertise and resources of both organizations."

Lee Hu-shin, Head of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency's Women and Youth Affairs Division, emphasized the immediate psychological distress experienced by crime victims, noting, "Through this agreement with the Mokpo Smile Center, we will build a more comprehensive and robust social safety net that leaves no gaps in the protection and support of crime victims, ensuring their swift return to stable daily lives." He also pledged the continued interest and proactive cooperation of the police in supporting crime victims.

The collaboration between the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency and the Mokpo Smile Center is being hailed as a significant advancement in the regional crime victim support system. By combining the expertise and networks of both entities, it is expected to provide tangible assistance to those suffering from the impact of crime and contribute to the creation of a safer community environment. It is hoped that this cooperative model will expand nationwide, ensuring that all crime victims receive the necessary support in a timely manner.

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