[MZ Police Officer] "Finding the Truth in the Midst of the Incident"... Youngest Officer in the Traffic Investigation Team

Over 4,000 Cases a Year...
Fitness Management Keeps Me Going Despite Overtime
"Gratitude from Citizens Brings Pride as a Police Officer"
"I Aspire to Be a Senior Who Supports Juniors"

Editor's NoteGeneration Z is coming. It is an era where newcomers 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 across city and provincial police offices, 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 hear vivid stories about their thoughts on work and life.

At around 4 p.m. on the 4th at an intersection in Jeonnong-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Police Officer Seo-yeon Lee (23) of the Traffic Investigation Team 2 at Dongdaemun Police Station stopped midway while crossing the crosswalk. It was the site of an accident on the 1st where a straight-going vehicle collided with a non-protected left-turning vehicle. Officer Lee, holding a camera and a measuring wheel in both hands, was photographing the scene in the middle of the road and measuring the distance the accident vehicles moved with the measuring wheel.

Appointed as a police officer in December 2023, Officer Lee started her first assignment at Imun Police Substation under Dongdaemun Police Station and was assigned to the Traffic Investigation Team 2 in the second half of last year. Dongdaemun-gu has crowded places like Gyeongdong Market and Cheongnyangni Market, where traffic accidents frequently occur. Having been assigned for less than a year, Officer Lee admits she has "many shortcomings" but responds to accident scenes daily.

Police Officer Lee Seoyeon of the Traffic Investigation Team at Dongdaemun Police Station is conducting an on-site investigation of a traffic accident on Dapsimni-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on March 4, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Over 4,000 Traffic Accidents... "Lots of Overtime but Staying Strong with Fitness Management"

The Traffic Investigation Team 2, to which Officer Lee belongs, receives and handles traffic accidents occurring in Dongdaemun-gu. They handle everything from receiving traffic accident complaints to distinguishing between perpetrators and victims in serious injury cases, investigating the incidents, and deciding whether to forward the case. In fatal accidents, they must also prepare autopsy documents. The most important task is to analyze the accident circumstances meticulously to ensure no one is wronged. When an accident occurs, nearby police substations or stations manage the scene, and the team takes over to investigate the actual extent of the damage.

Traffic accidents happen at all hours, so overtime work is frequent. Officer Lee said, "The basic schedule is from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the day and from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day at night, but when cases pile up, all team members often start work at 3 or 4 p.m. and work until the next afternoon." She added, "The working hours are long and the lifestyle irregular, so it can be tiring, but I tend to sleep deeply when I do sleep, and I maintain my stamina by exercising regularly."

About 4,000 traffic accidents were reported to Dongdaemun Police Station last year. With four teams operating, each member handles an average of 20 to 30 cases per month. The principle is to process cases within two months. However, major accidents such as fatalities can take over three months due to blood tests or requests for MADIMO (traffic accident analysis system).

Police Officer Lee Seoyeon of the Traffic Investigation Team at Dongdaemun Police Station is being interviewed at Dongdaemun Police Station in Seoul on the 4th. March 4, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

'Thank You' Gives Pride as a Police Officer

Despite the daily heavy workload, Officer Lee finds fulfillment in the words of gratitude from citizens during case handling. She said, "Recently, I received a report that someone scratched a car and fled. I searched through security CCTV, private CCTV, and black boxes to find the vehicle number." She added, "When the reporter said, 'Thank you so much,' I felt pride as a police officer."

She also felt proud as a police officer when catching a drunk driver who fled. Officer Lee recalled, "In an accident last fall, CCTV showed the perpetrator drinking at a bar before driving. To prove drunk driving, a breathalyzer test is needed, but the blood alcohol level decreases over time. We caught the driver by calculating the blood alcohol concentration at the time of driving using the Widmark formula."

Of course, there are tough moments. Early this year, Officer Lee experienced handling a fatal accident for the first time at Cheongnyangni Station Transfer Center. She said, "It was the first time I saw a victim who died at the accident scene." She added, "I had to contact the bereaved family to obtain the death certificate, and seeing them sobbing overwhelmed me with sadness and made me unsure how to proceed with the work."

She was able to overcome what could have become trauma thanks to the seniors in Traffic Investigation Team 2. Officer Lee said, "Seniors help a lot when handling major cases like fatal accidents." She added, "When difficulties arise during investigations, seniors stay late to organize how to proceed and offer practical advice without hesitation."

Police Officer Lee Seoyeon of the Traffic Investigation Team at Dongdaemun Police Station is conducting an on-site investigation of a traffic accident on Dapsimni-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on March 4, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

"I Want to Be a Senior Who Helps Juniors"

Inspired by seniors who pursue even minor accidents to the end, Officer Lee aspires to become a veteran police officer. Traffic Investigation Team 2 has always pursued all cases thoroughly. In fact, last December, after more than a week of tracking, they caught a hit-and-run cyclist. Unlike vehicles, bicycles do not have license plates, making it difficult for police to identify perpetrators.

At that time, a bicycle ran a red light and hit a pedestrian before fleeing on a street in Dapsimni-dong, Dongdaemun-gu. The team confirmed the perpetrator’s entire route from an apartment in Yongdu-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, to another apartment in Dapsimni-dong through surrounding CCTV. They then identified and caught the perpetrator using apartment complex CCTV.

Police Officer Lee Seoyeon of the Traffic Investigation Team at Dongdaemun Police Station is conducting an on-site investigation of a traffic accident on Dapsimni-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on March 4, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Additionally, the team checks restaurant CCTV to estimate how much alcohol a drunk driver actually consumed to calculate blood alcohol concentration. Officer Lee said, "Watching these seniors, I vowed to become a police officer who never gives up and pursues cases to the end."

Like her seniors, she aims to become a "senior to look up to" for future juniors. She concluded the interview saying, "Watching my seniors work, I thought I wanted to emulate their calmness and persistence in investigating even major accidents. Just as I look up to my seniors, I want to be a senior that juniors can admire."