[MZ Police Officer] "Punishment Is Not the End"... Police Preventing Even Retaliatory Crimes

<23> Lee Seungjae, Officer in the Women and Youth Affairs Division at Jungnang Police Station, Seoul
"Resolving Underlying Conflicts Is as Important as Punishment"

Editor's NoteGeneration Z is arriving. New employees in their 20s and 30s are now shaping the future of organizational culture. The police force is no exception. The police are made up of a wide range of departments, including criminal investigation, general investigation, security, intelligence, traffic, administration, public relations, audit, and women and youth. Work environments vary, such as provincial agencies, police stations, mobile units, and local police precincts or substations, and the nature of the work differs greatly by region. From the perspective of the youngest police officers, we introduce their departments and listen to vivid stories about their work and lives as they see them.

"We need to focus more on post-incident management rather than just punishment to prevent retaliatory crimes."

Police Officer Seungjae Lee is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 16th. Photo by Youngchan Choi

These are the words of Police Officer Seungjae Lee (age 33), who works in the Women and Youth Affairs Division at Jungnang Police Station in Seoul. His job does not end with simply apprehending criminals and bringing them to justice. Since the cases investigated by the Women and Youth Affairs Division often involve domestic violence, child abuse, and stalking, there is a high possibility of retaliation against victims even after the punishment has been handed down. Officer Lee refers to these as "relationship-based" crimes. He explained, "In relationship-based crimes, the parties often know each other's addresses and names, so while punishing the perpetrator is important, it is even more crucial to focus on protecting the victim."

Protecting Victims Even After Punishment

Officer Lee said, "For example, in a case where a husband assaults his wife and the husband is fined, since they are family, in reality, they end up paying the fine together. This can lead to further disputes and possible retaliation against the wife who reported the crime." To address this, the Women and Youth Affairs Division sometimes refers cases to the court as family protection cases when transferring them. This is a measure that prioritizes the maintenance of the family over punishment. In addition, they do their best to prevent secondary harm by applying to the court for temporary or provisional measures, requesting restraining orders, or providing smartwatches to victims.

Officer Lee's work is quite different from what he originally imagined police work to be. He became a police officer because he admired the strong image of police officers depicted in movies like "The Outlaws." However, after actually working as a police officer, his understanding of what it means to be strong changed. He said, "Watching my senior officers in the field, I realized that true strength comes from composure. Rather than simply being tough on people, I felt true strength when I adhered to the law and principles and applied my own know-how."

Police Officer Seungjae Lee is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 16th. Photo by Youngchan Choi

In fact, there was a recent incident where Officer Lee responded to a report of domestic violence, only to discover that the conflict stemmed from misunderstandings caused by financial difficulties. During the investigation, Officer Lee listened carefully to each family member's concerns. Afterwards, he referred them to the police's "Restorative Dialogue Group" program, which created an environment where the family could talk to each other. He said, "I heard that the family members cried their hearts out as they talked and came to understand each other's situations. They wrote a pledge to resolve conflicts peacefully, and in the end, the case was closed without charges." He added, "From their perspective, resolving underlying conflicts through dialogue, rather than simply imposing punishment or educational measures, might be a better solution."

From Student Council President to Restaurant Owner to Academy Staff... The Path to Becoming a Police Officer

Before becoming a police officer, Officer Lee ran a restaurant and also worked in the administrative team of a large private academy. He left these jobs and became a police officer because he felt he was not suited to working in profit-oriented environments. Whether it was a restaurant or an academy, making money meant prioritizing customers and often making compromises for profit. However, he found it most appealing that, as a police officer, he could freely express his opinions within the framework of the law. He said, "I found it difficult to feel a sense of fulfillment while working at the restaurant or academy. Being a police officer, my third career, is the most satisfying job I've had so far, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment."

Officer Lee, who even served as the student council president at university, considers his greatest strength as a police officer to be his inclusiveness. He said, "Through my activities in various organizations, I have met people of different ages and professions. Meeting and communicating with many people and collaborating with them has given me the strength to accept others without prejudice."

Police Officer Seungjae Lee is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 16th. Photo by Youngchan Choi

Officer Lee still has many goals he wants to achieve, including forensic science and education. Because he has a persistent personality that drives him to dig deeply into anything he becomes interested in, he wants to focus on finding evidence left at crime scenes in a forensic investigation unit. He said, "There is still much to learn in my current department, but if I get the chance to work in another department, I definitely want to try forensic investigation. I also plan to study and obtain the necessary certifications to join that department."

Local Police Officer Protecting Jungnang-gu

Officer Lee is a lifelong resident of Jungnang-gu. When choosing his work location, he selected his hometown of Jungnang-gu, and thanks to his excellent performance at the Central Police Academy, he was assigned there. He said, "I was born at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Jungnang-gu and have lived here ever since. I applied because I thought that knowing the area's characteristics and geography well would help me in my work." What Officer Lee hopes for most is that there will no longer be a need for police to respond to family incidents in Jungnang-gu. He added, "Perhaps because this area is largely residential, there seem to be many reports and incidents. I hope that by resolving each case one by one, peace will eventually come to families here, and there will be a day when not a single incident occurs."