The Evolution of 'War with Gangs'... This Year, 'Geonpok' Becomes Police Target

Annual Special Crackdown on Organized Crime
Focused Crackdown on Illegal Activities at Construction Sites

The police conduct special crackdowns on organized crime every year. Approximately 1,500 personnel are deployed, forming nearly 300 teams centered around the violent crime investigation units of 18 metropolitan and provincial police agencies nationwide. Until now, the police have focused their crackdowns on small-scale illegal markets. They believe that the activity patterns of violent organizations have evolved from the traditional method of expanding power by commanding large numbers of members to a form that pursues practicality.

Some have viewed these crackdowns as an "annual event." The scale and intensity of these operations differ significantly from those during the 10·13 Special Declaration under the Roh Tae-woo administration, which can be considered the origin of the so-called "war on crime."

Union members occupying the construction site. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The special crackdown on organized crime that began on the 13th this year is expected to differ in nature from the "war on crime" operations conducted in recent years. The police announced the day before the start of the crackdown that they would focus on illegal activities at construction sites. This signals a crackdown beyond the traditional scope, including collective violence arising from power struggles and the operation of small-scale illegal markets such as gambling dens.

The inclusion of illegal activities at construction sites as a key target in this special crackdown is due to the confirmation of serious damage cases. Since December last year, the police have been conducting a "special crackdown on violent acts at construction sites," during which they detected multiple indications of active organized crime members involved in illegal activities. A representative case is that of Yu Mo (37), an organized crime member recently arrested by the Violent Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency. Yu, who was active as a construction union official, was arrested on charges of mobilizing gang members to threaten a construction company at a site in Osan City, Gyeonggi Province, in May last year and extorting 11 million won in advance payments.

There is also analysis that President Yoon Seok-yeol’s strict call for measures against violence and illegal activities at construction sites during the Cabinet meeting on the 21st of last month served as a catalyst for this crackdown. At that time, President Yoon stated, "If violence and illegality are witnessed and left unchecked, it cannot be called a nation," and emphasized, "Illegal activities must be thoroughly inspected and cracked down upon, and if illegal acts are uncovered, strict measures must be taken according to the law."

Lobby of the National Police Agency, Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The police have been conducting a re-selection process of managed organized crime members until February in preparation for this crackdown. According to the National Police Agency, as of last year, 207 gangs and 5,465 organized crime members are active nationwide. Since this figure is estimated based on the number of major violent organizations under police management, the actual number is believed to be higher.

The police plan to strengthen intelligence gathering on various illegal activities involving these groups at construction sites. Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, emphasized, "We define violent acts at construction sites as a deep-rooted evil that must be eradicated, and the police will root out illegality and disorder without fail." A National Police Agency official stated, "In line with the government-wide crackdown on violent acts at construction sites, illegal activities will be strictly targeted."