[MZ Police Officer] "The Police Closest to Citizens"... The Youngest Member of the Mobile Patrol Unit on the Ground

Seoul Police Agency Mobile Patrol Unit 3 Officer Lee Doo-hee
Walking 9 Hours Daily to Detect and Prevent Crime

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, and women & youth. The working environments differ at metropolitan police agencies, police stations, riot police units, and district police stations, and the tasks vary greatly by region. From the perspective of the youngest police officer, we introduce their department and hear vivid stories about their thoughts on work and life.

"Wouldn't I be instinctively drawn to it even if I were born again?"

On the last day of 2024, December 31st, we met Police Officer Lee Doo-hee (27) of the Mobile Patrol Unit 3 at Seoul Seongbuk Police Station. When asked if he would want to become a police officer again if he were born again, he smiled and answered affirmatively. Officer Lee joined in June 2022 and has been working as the youngest member of the mobile patrol team for about a year since early this year. His teammates describe him as a "friend for whom being a police officer is a calling" and "born to be a police officer." Officer Lee said, "Since I was young, I thought police officers who wear uniforms and handle their duties with charisma were cool," adding, "My personality fits perfectly with the rewarding feeling I get from helping others, so my job satisfaction is the highest."

Police Officer Lee Doo-hee (second from the right) and experienced members of the 3rd Mobile Patrol Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency are shouting "Fighting" before patrolling the Dadong area in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 31st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Walking 9 hours a day but rewarding... "Closest to citizens' grievances"

Officer Lee volunteered for and was assigned to the mobile patrol unit earlier this year. The mobile patrol unit walks across various parts of the country to proactively detect and prevent various crimes, incidents, and accidents that may occur before 112 emergency calls are received. Officer Lee arrives at the office in the annex of Seoul Seongbuk Police Station at 9 a.m. and prepares to head out to his jurisdiction. Upon arrival, he receives his personal weapon and forms a team with 5 to 6 colleagues before moving to their assigned area. The Mobile Patrol Unit 3, to which Officer Lee belongs, is responsible for nine districts in the eastern part of Seoul, including Seongbuk-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, Nowon-gu, and Gangbuk-gu.

The characteristic of the mobile patrol unit is that they walk through every narrow alley and corner of the area on foot. Even when it rains or snows, the intense work of walking nine hours a day continues. Nevertheless, Officer Lee praised, "The mobile patrol unit is the place where you can hear the grievances of local residents most closely." He explained, "We detect and prevent various incidents, accidents, and potential crimes that cannot be discovered through vehicle patrols or 112 emergency calls. Because we can proactively help someone, I have never really thought of the work as difficult."

Police Officer Lee Doo-hee (front row, right) and other experienced members of the 3rd Mobile Patrol Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency are patrolling the Jongno area in Seoul on the 31st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

At the end of October last year, there was a harrowing incident. While patrolling near the Bukhansan Dulle-gil trail with his team members, Officer Lee found an elderly man in his 80s sitting down in the rain. When Officer Lee tried to hand the man over to his guardian, the elderly man, who was suffering from dementia, could not properly explain his name, age, or residence. To make matters worse, he was very wary of the approaching police officers in uniform and even refused simple communication. Officer Lee recalled, "He was about the same age as my grandmother, so I approached him slowly, saying, 'You remind me of my grandmother.'" Gradually, the elderly man opened his heart and handed over an ID card from his bag. It was a dangerous situation that would not have been discovered if we had not walked to such a rarely visited place."

In the eastern part of Seoul, where many elderly people live, crimes and incidents targeting the elderly frequently occur. While patrolling a traditional market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Officer Lee once prevented a voice phishing crime after seeing a text message on an elderly person's phone demanding a remittance. He has also stopped elderly people attempting to jaywalk in secluded areas several times, preventing traffic accidents. Because elderly people are easily caught up in crimes and incidents, Officer Lee pays special attention during patrols.

Officer Lee said, "During patrols, I hear from elderly residents about minor complaints like 'someone next door is causing a disturbance' or 'it's scary walking at night because the streetlights are off,' as well as serious crimes like voice phishing or theft. I feel proud to prevent such crimes and gain strength from the warm words the elderly give me as I walk."

Police Officer Lee Doo-hee (front row, right) and other experienced members of the 3rd Mobile Patrol Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency are patrolling the Dadong area in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 31st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

"I want to be a police officer like a friend"

On this day, just a few hours before the New Year of 2025, in the late afternoon, Officer Lee had already set out on foot patrol around the area. Since a large crowd was expected for the upcoming Boshingak bell-ringing event, the possibility of various crimes and incidents was also high.

Despite the cold weather that made his body tremble just standing still, Officer Lee and the other mobile patrol members repeatedly walked from Exit 5 of Jongno Station to the Jongno restaurant street. Fortunately, no major incidents or accidents were detected, and nearby merchants approached Officer Lee, who was managing the crowd and controlling traffic, to say, "Thank you for your hard work."

Police Officer Lee Doo-hee (front row, right) and other members of the 3rd Mobile Patrol Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency are patrolling the Dadong area in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 31st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The patrol continued until 1 a.m. the next day after the bell-ringing event ended. Officer Lee explained, "On days when big events are held, we work with more tension than usual. When the event starts, a sudden large crowd gathers, and the mobile patrol unit plays an important role in detecting and preventing potential crimes through prior patrols."

Finally, when asked what kind of police officer he wants to be, Officer Lee answered after a moment, "A police officer like a friend." While he once dreamed of being a charismatic police officer before joining, now he wants to be a warmer and more approachable officer to citizens.

Officer Lee smiled and said, "A friend is someone who listens to your worries comfortably anytime and supports you reliably. Working in the mobile patrol unit made me want to be a police officer who is comfortable and warm like a friend. I hope citizens think of the police as comfortably as they do a friend. I will do my best to help with all my heart and strength."