Increase in Firearms and Taser Training for New Police Officers Amid Threats of 'Weapon Rampage'

Strengthening On-Site Response Capability... More Than Double Compared to Last Year
Intensive Training for Police Officers with Poor Evaluation Results

Following a series of knife attacks last year, the police have decided to more than double the frequency of shooting and electronic shock device training for new officers this year.

The National Police Commission recently reviewed and approved the '2024 Basic Plan for Police Talent Development,' according to a report by Yonhap News on the 21st. According to this year's plan, the police will conduct specialized response training tailored to the increasing threats such as knife attacks and homemade firearms.

First, the mandatory shooting training for about 5,000 new officers will be significantly increased from 290 rounds to 590 rounds. To facilitate this, a mobile on-site shooting training system that can be conducted regardless of location will be introduced.

Not only new officers but also about 50,000 active-duty police officers will see strengthened shooting training. The number of special shooting sessions, in addition to regular shooting, will increase from twice a year to four times a year. Furthermore, the training will be improved to practical, scenario-based exercises that reflect situations likely to occur in the field to enhance on-site response capabilities. The shooting proficiency evaluation standards will be raised, and officers with poor evaluation results will receive at least one advanced training session annually, strengthening management.

A police officer is taking a shooting stance with a low-risk pistol, which was announced for introduction last August to respond to violent crimes. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Electronic shock device training will also increase from 3 rounds to 8 rounds. Electronic shock devices allow for immediate response compared to handguns and minimize casualties, making them increasingly useful at crime scenes.

For active-duty officers, live-fire training with electronic shock devices will expand from 2 rounds per year to 3 rounds. To support this, the police plan to actively utilize the 'Smart Shooting Training System,' which uses screen targets called 'Smart Targets' and safety-guaranteed dummy rounds.

The Smart Shooting Training System will be gradually distributed over five years starting this year to 90 police stations without live-fire shooting ranges and to district police stations nationwide. Its advantage is that it allows autonomous training without restrictions on time or place.

The National Police Agency stated, "Through job- and competency-centered education and training, we will enhance professionalism and strengthen on-site response capabilities for the safe daily lives of citizens, while also striving to expand education and training infrastructure for nurturing future security talents."

Meanwhile, the Basic Plan for Talent Development is established annually based on the Police Officer Act, the Public Officials Talent Development Act, and other laws. It is divided into new recruit, basic, job training, and workplace training, specifying the content and operation methods of annual education and training courses.

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