Central Police Academy Temporarily Suspends Online Training Due to 'Quick View' Exploit

Pre-Entry Training for New Police Recruits
310th Batch Assignment Program Detected
311th Batch Face-to-Face Training Policy

Chungju Central Police Academy exterior. Photo by Chungju Central Police Academy promotional video capture

[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Jo and Byungseon Gong] It was confirmed on the 6th that the Central Police Academy has decided to temporarily suspend the online education that new police trainees receive before enrollment. This is a follow-up measure after it was discovered that some trainees of the 310th class, who enrolled earlier this year, used playback speed acceleration programs while taking the online courses .

According to Asia Economy's comprehensive coverage, the Central Police Academy has decided not to conduct the existing online education for the 311th class of new police trainees enrolling in June this year. A representative from the academy stated, "We are currently reviewing the online education system itself," and added, "We have not scheduled online education for the 311th class enrolling next month." The online education is a preliminary course where new police trainees at the Central Police Academy study core theories by subject before enrollment. It consists of subjects such as criminal investigation, inquiry, tactical arrest techniques, and shooting. The 311th class trainees will receive all their education face-to-face after enrollment without this preliminary online course.

The pre-enrollment online education was introduced last year due to the spread of COVID-19 and the government's police recruitment plan, which caused a surge in the number of enrollees. However, it was revealed that some trainees of the 310th class, who enrolled in January this year, used speed acceleration programs to take the courses. The Central Police Academy then began improving the system and ultimately decided not to provide online education to the 311th class enrolling next month. The academy official said, "As the recruitment plan is finalized and the COVID-19 situation improves, we do not plan to conduct online education before enrollment, but if it is reintroduced in the future, we will block the use of speed acceleration programs through technical means."

The Central Police Academy reportedly ordered some trainees of the 310th class who completed the education using speed acceleration programs to retake the courses and convened an education management committee including external members to impose penalty points on them. The specific number of individuals and the scale of penalty points were not disclosed. Penalty points are reflected in the comprehensive grades during education and will affect the support for preferred work locations upon official appointment. The 310th class trainees will be officially appointed after graduating in August.

Meanwhile, the graduation ceremony for the 309th class of new police trainees was held at the Central Police Academy on the morning of the same day. The 1,795 graduates completed eight months of training and will take their first steps as police officers in frontline security posts such as district police stations and patrol offices. Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong urged in his congratulatory speech, "No matter when, where, or what situation you face, I hope you act confidently with the mindset that you represent the police."