SEOUL – South Korean authorities are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to make better use of security camera footage, deploying systems that can quickly search for missing people and automatically detect incidents such as violence or people collapsing in the street.
The technology is helping authorities sift through vast amounts of footage that would otherwise have to be checked manually, while generally positive public attitudes toward security cameras as a tool for safety have helped spur their wider use.
At a control center in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo district, staff and police officers monitor footage around the clock from about 5,500 security cameras installed by the local government.
“Let me show you how the AI search system works,” an official in charge of the system said, turning to a monitor.
Using information provided to police, an operator enters details including the missing person’s gender and the colors of their upper and lower body clothing.
After specifying when and where the person disappeared, the AI analyzes footage from cameras in the surrounding area and displays images of people matching the description.
Once the person is identified, operators can search footage from nearby cameras to trace their movements.
The system can simultaneously search 30 minutes of footage from as many as 100 cameras, completing the process in about seven to eight minutes.
“Before, people had to check the footage one camera at a time,” the official said.
The system has already helped locate missing people.
On July 4, an elderly person with dementia went missing in Yeongdeungpo. Working with police, the control center used the AI system to find the person wandering in the district, allowing them to be safely taken into care about two hours later.
AI is also being used to automatically identify potentially dangerous situations, including people lying collapsed in the street or fights breaking out, helping authorities respond earlier and prevent crime.
On Seoul’s Han River, bridge cameras use technology designed to detect behavior regarded as a possible warning sign of suicide, such as someone remaining in the same spot for a prolonged period.
According to South Korean media, the number of security cameras operated by local governments nationwide rose from about 440,000 in 2020 to 650,000 in 2024.
At the same time, the number of staff monitoring footage has declined. By 2024, each staff member was responsible for an average of 477 cameras, making more efficient analysis an increasingly pressing issue.
The total number of cameras in South Korean cities is far higher when privately installed systems and vehicle dashboard cameras are included.
A police officer working at the Yeongdeungpo control center said investigators have come to place greater importance on camera footage than on searching for witnesses or conducting interviews.
“People’s memories can be inconsistent,” the officer said. “But if something is clearly captured on camera, there is no disputing it.”
The control center official said attitudes toward security cameras have also changed.
“In the past, there was a negative image of security cameras as part of a ‘surveillance society,'” the official said. “Now, the prevailing view is that they help make people safer.”
“There are also many requests for more cameras to be installed.”
Source: english.kyodonews.net
