Human rights violations in protest and demonstration responses The South Korean police have faced continuous criticism regarding human rights violations, particularly in the handling of protests and demonstrations. Notably, during the 2005 anti-
KORUS FTA protests, excessive use of force by the police resulted in multiple injuries. In 2009, the
Yongsan District 4 Demolition Site fire occurred when police intervention led to a fire during an eviction operation, causing five deaths and one injury. Further allegations include mistreatment and abuse during police interrogations. The Baek Nam-gi incident in 2016, where a farmer died after being struck by a police water cannon during a protest, sparked significant public outrage and criticism of excessive police force.
Corruption and misconduct within the police force Corruption within the police force has been a recurring issue. In 2014, a senior police official was arrested for allegedly accepting bribes, bringing attention to the extent of internal corruption within the organization. In 2021, allegations of collusion between the police and entertainment establishments in
Gangnam raised public concerns about fairness and integrity within the police force. These incidents highlight the limitations of internal monitoring systems and emphasize the need for institutional reforms.
Rigid organizational culture and inadequate whistleblower protection The hierarchical and rigid organizational culture of the police force has been criticized for discouraging internal whistleblowing. There are claims that insufficient protections for whistleblowers make it difficult for officers to report corruption or misconduct. In 2018, a police officer who raised concerns about a superior’s misconduct allegedly faced retaliatory actions in the form of a punitive job reassignment.
Concerns over investigative fairness and political neutrality The South Korean police have also faced scrutiny over political neutrality during investigations. Concerns have been raised about possible external pressure in politically sensitive cases. In 2019, the investigation involving
Cho Kuk, the former
Minister of Justice, became highly controversial, raising questions about impartiality and political interference.
Excessive use of force and abuse of authority Excessive use of force by the police has been a recurring issue, particularly during protests and demonstrations. Several cases have been reported where the use of disproportionate force resulted in civilian casualties. Such incidents have drawn criticism from international
human rights organizations.
Controversy over the expansion of female police officers As part of gender equality initiatives, the South Korean government has promoted the recruitment of
female police officers. Efforts to increase gender diversity in public service have led to a significant rise in the proportion of female officers, growing from approximately 2% in the early 2000s to over 12% by 2020.
Background of the controversy Although the policy was initially aimed at promoting gender equality, controversies emerged regarding deployment and operational capacity. One of the most debated issues is the relaxation of physical fitness requirements for female applicants. Critics argue that this policy undermines fairness in the recruitment process, as women are subjected to less stringent physical tests than their male counterparts. Additionally, concerns have been raised about female officers' ability to respond effectively in the field. After the
2016 Seocho-dong public-toilet murder case, public awareness regarding crimes against women increased, leading to an expanded deployment of female officers. However, questions were raised regarding the physical capability of female officers in handling violent situations. The issue intensified following the 2019 Seoul Daerim-dong police officer assault incident, in which a female officer was criticized for her perceived lack of decisive action during the intervention. This incident reignited public debate over the roles and deployment of female officers.
Allegations of reverse discrimination and internal criticism Within the police force, concerns about reverse discrimination have surfaced, with some officers arguing that gender quotas lead to unequal opportunities based on gender rather than merit. The deployment of female officers has also raised operational concerns. Critics argue that in physically demanding roles such as
riot control or serious crime investigations, female officers are less frequently assigned, raising doubts about the efficiency of increasing female officer numbers.
Positive contributions and role expansion On the other hand, the increased presence of female officers has played a vital role in specific areas, particularly in
sexual crime investigations,
domestic violence response, and youth protection. In these cases, victims may feel more comfortable interacting with female officers, which can facilitate more effective investigations and support services.
The need for ongoing discussion The debate over the expansion of female police officers continues, with growing calls for a focus not only on increasing numbers but also on enhancing effective role allocation and operational capability. There is also an emphasis on the need for long-term institutional reforms that promote both diversity and efficiency within the police organization.
Civilian massacres during the Korean War Before the outbreak of the Korean War, the police cooperated with the Korean People's Guerrilla Army in the process of fighting with the Korean People's Guerrilla Army in Jeju Island, where （4·3 Incident） occurred, and in areas where （Yeosu·Suncheon Incident） occurred.
Massacre civilians suspected of having done so. Right after the war broke out, in the process of retreating, prison inmates and （All-National Association—All-National Association members）were slaughtered, and after restoration, civilians suspected of collaborating with the
Korean People's Army were slaughtered.
Oppression related to the democratization movement The police played a role in suppressing the democratization movement during
First Republic and
Fifth Republic. At the time of (3·15 Masan Uprising), the police fired at the protesters, killing 7 people, Kim Joo-yeol's body was abandoned, and (4.19 Revolution) also fired at the protesters As a result, 185 people died. (Bucheon Police Station Sexual Torture Incident) and (Park Jong-cheol's Torture and Death Case).
Woo Bum-kon incident Ssangyong Motor dispute suppression In May 2009, workers of the
Ssangyong Motor company occupied a plant during an anti-layoff strike. After negotiations broke down in August, riot police deployed tear gas, tasers, helicopters, and planes to suppress the strikers. In response, the disgruntled workers used slingshots, Molotov cocktails, and crowbars. Although appellate courts initially ruled against the workers in 2016, the
Supreme Court of Korea overturned the ruling. It was ruled that the workers acted in self-defense against excessive force from the police.
Controversy over the database of rally participants According to the 2010 state audit data submitted by
Democratic Party Choi Kyu-sik from the National Police Agency, the police have been systematically entering and managing photos of participants taken at rally and demonstration sites since 2001 after establishing a video interpretation system. The number of people entered for interpretation in this way was 23,698 over a period of five and a half years from 2005 to the end of August 2010. Since the police declared the half-price tuition rally in May 2011 illegal with tens of thousands of participants, it is likely that thousands more photos were entered. The National Police Agency did not disclose the scale of the data entered between 2001 and 2004. == Ranks ==