Drawing Attention Reduces Crime... The Security Impact of Hologram Police Officers

Hologram Police Officer at Jeodong 3 Park in Seoul
Sergeants Kim Hyundon and Kim Suhyang of Seoul Jungbu Police Station

"It naturally draws attention. That alone means more than half the battle is won."

Sergeants Kim Hyundon and Kim Suhyang from the Crime Prevention and Response Division at Seoul Jungbu Police Station shared this assessment of the hologram police officer's effectiveness in an interview with Asia Economy. They are the masterminds behind the planning of the hologram police officer, a piece of smart policing equipment installed at Jeodong 3 Park in Jung-gu, Seoul.

On the 7th, a citizen is passing by Jeodong 3 Park in Jung-gu, Seoul, where a hologram police officer is installed. Photo by Seungwook Park

The hologram police officer is projected at Jeodong 3 Park every two minutes from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., which is when many intoxicated individuals frequent the area. When the hologram police officer appears, an announcement also informs people that there is CCTV in the vicinity. Sergeant Kim Suhyang explained, "Many parks are equipped with intelligent CCTV and emergency bells, and both police officers and monitoring staff keep watch 24 hours a day. However, because citizens are often unaware of this, crimes such as violence can still occur. The hologram police officer serves to inform citizens about the presence of CCTV, thereby helping to prevent crimes from happening."

This kind of security equipment helps fill the gaps in patrol coverage. Although the police regularly patrol their jurisdiction, it is impossible to be everywhere at the same time. While mannequins or photo boards can be used, these methods have become so common that citizens have grown accustomed to them and may no longer pay attention to the messages. Sergeant Kim Hyundon said, "Because the hologram police officer is a new approach, it can attract citizens' attention, making it more effective in informing them about the presence of CCTV in the area."

In fact, from October last year, when the hologram police officer was first introduced, to May this year, the crime rate at Jeodong 3 Park dropped by 22% compared to the same period the previous year. Jeodong 3 Park is located in the Euljiro food alley, an area known for frequent incidents of spontaneous crimes such as drunken violence. The hologram police officer acts as a deterrent by reminding people that CCTV is present, helping to prevent crimes triggered by sudden emotional outbursts.

As the crime prevention effects have become known, other regions have begun to attempt benchmarking. Sergeant Kim Hyundon said, "We have received inquiries from various regions, including Gangwon-do and Ulsan, expressing interest in introducing the hologram police officer. Although it will take time to secure the necessary budgets and obtain cooperation from local governments in each area, interest is high, so we expect the use of hologram police officers to gradually expand."

On the 7th, a hologram police officer is being projected at Jeodong 3 Park in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seungwook Park

Since this is the first attempt, there are still areas that need improvement. Because the hologram equipment is outdoors, malfunctions can occur due to high or low temperatures, and sometimes the hologram does not project properly if someone tampers with the device. Additionally, external noise can make it difficult to hear the announcements. To address these issues, Sergeant Kim Suhyang visits Jeodong 3 Park every day to check the condition of the hologram police officer. In response to recent feedback that the announcements are hard to hear, a speaker that can amplify the sound will be installed.

The police are also monitoring citizens' reactions. Some people have commented that the hologram police officer, which appears at night, is frightening and ghost-like. Sergeant Kim Suhyang explained, "Because the hologram is projected from behind, there are times when the light does not reach the lower part of the acrylic panel where the police officer appears, making the legs invisible. This seems to be why some citizens feel scared. We are currently looking for solutions, such as replacing the acrylic panel, to address these concerns."

Sergeants Kim Hyundon and Kim Suhyang stated, "New initiatives like the hologram police officer may fail, but they are definitely necessary. To prevent crime, police presence is needed at the location, but when that is not realistically possible, it is important to enhance security through equipment that can fill the gaps in policing."

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