[MZ Police Officer] SPO Preventing School Violence and Juvenile Crime, Busy Days of the Youngest Member in the Women’s Police Division

Seol Ye-eun, Police Officer at Seoul Gwanak Police Station
Outstanding Empathy and Gentle Charisma
Draws Out Students' Stories to Solve Problems

Editor's NoteGeneration Z is coming. It is an era where new employees in their 20s and 30s decide the future of organizational culture. The police are no exception. The police have various departments such as criminal investigation, investigation, security, intelligence, traffic, administration, public relations, audit, women & youth, and more. The working environments differ across metropolitan police agencies, police stations, riot police units, and local police substations, and the tasks vary greatly by region. From the perspective of the youngest police officers, we introduce their departments and share vivid stories about their thoughts on work and life.

"I play a role in 'spoiling' the seriousness of school violence to prevent school violence and juvenile crime."

On the 16th, at the Seoul Gwanak Police Station located in Cheongnyong-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Police Corporal Seol Ye-eun (28) introduced herself as a 'spoiler.' When students are asked about the meaning of the School Police Officer (SPO), many answer 'Spo.' At times like this, Corporal Seol explains that "School Police Officers are like spoilers." She said, "Many students who have experienced school violence do not know well how they can be protected through certain procedures," and explained her work as "preventing even one student from suffering painful experiences of school violence and providing information to victims so they can receive appropriate measures."

SPOs are responsible for special prevention education on school violence, juvenile guidance and protection activities, school violence countermeasure committee duties, and on-site response to school violence. In particular, Gwanak-gu in Seoul was selected as a first-class district by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency due to its high number of delinquency-prone areas around Sillim Station, youth-harmful environment establishments, and 112 emergency calls.

Seol Ye-eun, a school police officer at Gwanak Police Station in Seoul, is being interviewed at Gwanak Police Station on the 16th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Corporal Seol is in charge of 13 out of 56 schools in the district. Despite her busy schedule, she is always sincere in guiding local youth onto the right path. Senior members of the SPO team at Seoul Gwanak Police Station praise Corporal Seol, saying, "She has excellent empathy and a uniquely gentle personality that helps her interact well with youth," and "She harmonizes well with other team members who deal with youth firmly and decisively, providing great support."

Thanks to these strengths, Corporal Seol is able to look into the inner lives of delinquent youth and the difficult environments they face, identifying hidden issues. Around 6 p.m., a student visited the police station. The student had been selected for the 'Love Eraser' program, which removes tattoos from youth free of charge, run by the National Police Agency. This student was experiencing problems such as being avoided by school friends and facing employment restrictions at travel agencies due to tattoos on their arm, and sought help from Corporal Seol. By continuously meeting with the student, listening to their story, and applying together for the Love Eraser program, they were able to be selected despite a 15:1 competition ratio.

That day, Corporal Seol carefully examined the student's hands and arms, asking step-by-step about the procedure and progress of the tattoo removal. She also checked on the student's friendships and academic difficulties, offering generous advice to help the student adapt well to school. Corporal Seol said, "This student is very good at Chinese and kind, but had difficulty making friends because of dyed hair and tattoos," adding, "I helped sincerely when applying for the Love Eraser program out of sympathy, and fortunately, the student's earnestness seemed to have paid off."

Seol Ye-eun, a school police officer at the Gwanak Police Station in Seoul, is having a meeting with a student who applied to the "Eraser of Love" program at the Gwanak Police Station on the 16th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

At 6:40 p.m., Corporal Seol moved without time to eat dinner to the Seowon Security Center located in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul. That day was the day for 'Dream-Pol,' a meeting held about once a month with out-of-school youth in the district. Since security center staff work only during the day, the meeting between SPOs and youth is held during the center's nighttime hours when it is otherwise empty.

As the clock struck 7 p.m., youth began gathering one by one at the Seowon Security Center. SPO team members warmly welcomed them like friendly uncles and aunts, calling each youth by name. Corporal Seol sat beside them, personally handing out pizza and continuing conversations. Together, they looked at a local map hung on one side of the center, carefully understanding which schools the youth attended, who was doing what, and which students were close friends, keeping track of the relationships and current status of youth in the district.

Corporal Seol said, "When you stay close and become friendly with the kids, they feel comfortable sharing their inner stories, allowing us to identify and improve problem situations together," adding, "forming rapport (a human relationship based on trust and friendliness as a premise for counseling or education) with the kids allows us to later ask about incidents that occur among youth. Sometimes, the kids can help with investigations." Until the youth left the security center promising "not to cause trouble as much as we enjoyed the food and to stay healthy," Corporal Seol watched their backs.

Seol Ye-eun, a school police officer at Gwanak Police Station in Seoul, is holding a 'Dream Pole' event on the 16th at Seowon Security Center in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, sharing food and conversations with out-of-school youth. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Of course, there are difficulties in SPO work. Corporal Seol cited calls from parents as the most challenging part. She said, "In situations where we need to guide students, some parents refuse meetings, saying their child did nothing wrong, or criticize us with comments like 'Have you ever raised a child?'" She emphasized, "It is tough to hear such things, but I believe we must not neglect these kids who are not recognized at home or school, so I try not to give up and respond with praise and love."

The driving force that keeps Corporal Seol going is the kids themselves. She carries a work phone 24/7 and answers students' calls even in the middle of the night, showing her genuine dedication to their safety and guidance. She smiled, saying, "When I wear my police uniform and go to school, students often approach me first, saying the uniform looks cool," adding, "Students who were initially cold and blunt often come to me first saying 'Please help me' once enough rapport is built. It is rewarding to connect them with the institutions they need and help solve their problems."

Finally, Corporal Seol advised junior officers aspiring to be SPOs, "Being an SPO requires not only police skills but also the ability to sincerely communicate with students and empathize with their perspectives," adding, "It is an important position that can change a student's life, so you must prioritize the happiness and safety of the students."