"Cooperation Between Civilians and Police Needed for National Safety"… Discussion on Activating Private Security Measures

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Police Agency building. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] A forum was held to explore ways to revitalize the private security industry, which has come to the forefront following incidents such as the Sindang Station stalking murder case and the Itaewon disaster.

The National Police Agency, together with the Korean Private Security Association and Lee Chae-ik, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee (People Power Party member), held an academic seminar on the afternoon of the 15th under the theme "Measures to Revitalize the Private Security Industry for the Protection of Public Safety." The seminar discussed the role of private security and tasks for its revitalization to prevent similar incidents and accidents like the Sindang Station murder case and the Itaewon disaster.

Professor Suhyun Park of the Department of Aviation Security and Protection at Kyungwoon University suggested that private security should be utilized in private investigation and traffic guidance security. He explained, "Private investigation has been the subject of over 200 studies and bills have been proposed in every session of the 15th National Assembly onward. Although traffic guidance security has fewer studies than private investigation, research on its introduction began in 2010," adding, "The tasks most suitable in terms of numerous studies, feasibility, and effectiveness are private investigation and traffic guidance security."

Professor Minhyung Lee of the Department of Security and Protection at Daegu Arts University emphasized that, amid increasing police duties, outsourcing to security service providers under the Security Services Act could have a supplementary and substitutive effect on police manpower. However, he noted, "If a consensus is formed that security service providers can functionally perform some roles of police work due to police manpower limitations and public interest needs, legal grounds and ordinances should be established for this," and added, "Verification of the qualifications of security service providers is also required."

Professor Seong Information of the Department of Police Administration at Gwangju University stressed the need to secure professionalism in the security industry and proposed introducing a security guard certification system similar to that of Japan. He stated, "Japan operates a certification system for security guards divided into first and second grades according to their level," and argued, "Korea should also establish graded certification qualifications to specialize the field of private security and secure objective indicators."

The seminar was attended by Cho Hyun-bin, President of the Korean Private Security Association, and Woo Jong-su, Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency. Deputy Commissioner Woo said, "Cooperation between the police and the private sector is very important to create an environment where citizens can live with peace of mind," and added, "Going forward, private security should be further revitalized by establishing a legal foundation so that it can actively play a role in maintaining order alongside the police."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.