[MZ Police Officer] "I want to become a police chief someday" ... Ambition of the top police officer

'Bicycle Theft'
A Small Incident That Sparked a Dream of Becoming a Police Officer
I Want to Be a Police Officer People Can Trust and Rely On...
My Ultimate Goal Is to Become the Chief of Eunpyeong Police Station

On the morning of the 27th of last month, around 8 a.m., the area near Daejo Police Substation under the Seoul Eunpyeong Police Station was quiet. Police Officer Seo Wonbeom (29), who was patrolling the neighborhood with his seniors, carefully watched the alleys and roads to avoid missing even the smallest details. Officer Seo said, "While patrolling with my seniors, I learned that I always have to be prepared for various situations that might arise," adding, "My seniors teach me the procedures for handling complaints on-site and the things to be cautious about, so I feel I need to work even harder to fully understand them."

Police Officer Seowonbeom (29) is patrolling near Daejo Police Box with a senior officer on the 27th. Photo by Choi Youngchan

Officer Seo is an elite police officer who ranked 4th overall out of 2,300 trainees in the six-month Central Police Academy program. Initially, Seo only intended to focus on studying hard at the Central Police Academy, but after achieving good results in the shooting test, his ambition grew. The academy's grading system combines various indicators such as written exams, physical fitness, shooting, and peer evaluations, and the better the grades, the higher the chance of being assigned to a preferred area. Seo not only excelled in exams but also served as a deputy class leader, eventually receiving a commendation from the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency and being assigned to the desired Daejo Police Substation.

Of course, Officer Seo also feels nervous every time a report comes into the substation. This is because it is impossible to predict what might happen, including incidents like intoxicated citizens running onto the road. Seo recalls a memorable experience during his training period when he helped an elderly grandmother who had lost her way get back home. At that time, the grandmother only remembered her name and her family members' names but had no information about her address or phone number, and even fingerprint checks only revealed a past address, leaving the situation uncertain. Seo said, "I visited the elementary school the grandmother's granddaughter attended and went to the community center one by one with senior officers, and we barely managed to find her address so she could return to her family. That made me feel proud."

In fact, the area under the jurisdiction of Daejo Police Substation has many elderly residents suffering from dementia and other mental illnesses. Watching his seniors who are well-versed in these local characteristics and work skillfully, Seo realized that following the manual is not everything. He said, "When seniors receive missing person reports from families, they immediately remember who the person is and where they live, quickly find them, and escort them home," adding, "I thought that as a patrol team member, I should not only follow the set procedures but also take an interest in those who need police protection."

Police Officer Seowonbeom (29) is working at the Daecho Police Substation in Seoul on the 27th. Photo by Choi Youngchan

After graduating from university, Seo fulfilled his military service obligation as an Air Force officer cadet but never stopped striving to become a police officer. He said, "I planned to take the police exam after discharge anyway," adding, "To get familiar with police work even a little, I served in the Air Force's military police specialty."

Seo hopes to work as an investigator like the police officer who helped him in his childhood. Normally, one must pass an exam to join the investigation department, but Seo was able to become a preliminary investigator by graduating from the Central Police Academy with excellent grades. Seo is particularly interested in intellectual crimes and traffic crimes among investigative duties. He said, "I've always liked cars since I was young, and my hobby is car washing," adding, "When preparing for the police exam, studying traffic regulations was the most enjoyable."

Police Officer Seowonbeom (29) is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Daecho Police Substation in Seoul on the 27th. Photo by Choi Youngchan

I Want to Be a Police Officer People Can Trust and Rely On... My Ultimate Goal Is to Become the Chief of Eunpyeong Police Station

Officer Seo has a goal to become a police officer whom citizens can trust and rely on, just like the one he trusted when he was young. Perhaps for this reason, he felt great fulfillment when recently assigned to assist elementary school students on their way to school. He said, "Handling reports and working on-site was rewarding, but I think the most fulfilling moment was knowing I was protecting the students' safety."

Still having much to learn and many things to master, Officer Seo aims to leverage his strength of 'calmness' as a police officer. He said, "Even among friends and people around me, I often hear that I have little emotional fluctuation," adding, "Since unexpected things can happen on-site, it is important to maintain calmness and composure while handling duties, so I want to use this strength to do well in my police career."

In April, Officer Seo will return to the Central Police Academy and will have his graduation ceremony on the 11th. Afterward, he plans to complete his training again at Daejo Police Substation. Finally, Seo expressed his ambition, saying, "There are many challenges I want to take on, but ultimately, I want to become the chief of Eunpyeong Police Station, where I was first assigned."

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