In efforts to reduce crime on the subways, CCTV cameras are being installed in more subway cars, usually two per car, and there is a radio at the ends of cars in which you can talk to the conductor if needed. Do not expect the conductor to speak English.

Subway systems have special police that travel in pairs, sometimes with police dogs. If you need to contact the police to report sexual harassment, pickpocketing, or anything else, call 112. If you cannot speak Korean, they will get an interpreter on the line from the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline & Complaint Center.

Subway stations have a number of security cameras, but some additionally have Safe Zones (안전구역, 安全區域, anjeonguyeok). These are areas better covered with security cameras and presumably are more frequently watched over by station staff. These have been spotted on occasion in Seoul and it is unclear if they are in other cities as well.

Certain intercity and express bus terminals also have Safe Zones, but in usage are very different than the safe zones of the subway. Safe Zones at a bus terminal is a single line on the ground intending to tell passengers to wait behind it while buses pull in. As shown in the image below, buses tend to roll their tires as close to the sidewalk as possible to help passengers more easily board the bus.