Number of Applicants Rises from 25 to 63 in Three Years
Transfers to Police University Expected to Increase Further
A rookie police officer in their first year on the job listens to online lectures from a cyber university as soon as they get off work each day. This is because they are earning credits in preparation for transferring to the Police University. The officer said, "If I succeed in transferring to the Police University, I can immediately work as a lieutenant instead of a police constable," adding, "Since I only graduated from high school and did not attend university, I am currently earning credits to meet the eligibility requirements for transfer."
At this year's appointment ceremony for newly commissioned police lieutenants and captains, the appointees are taking the oath of appointment at the Police University Lee Sunshin Hall. Photo by Yonhap News
It has been confirmed that over the past three years, the number of police constables applying for transfer to the Police University has increased by 2.5 times. Interest in transferring to the Police University is rising as the promotion exam from constable to senior constable has been abolished.
According to the Police University on June 30, for the 2025 academic year, 63 police constables applied for transfer, accounting for 31.0% of all in-service police officer applicants. The number of police constable applicants has increased each year, starting with 25 (11.5%) in the 2023 academic year, 56 (30.0%) in the 2024 academic year, and now 63 in the 2025 academic year.
Another first-year police constable (age 33) said, "With the path to promotion through exams blocked, it seems better to aim for transfer to the Police University, which allows direct appointment as a lieutenant," adding, "Although my work experience is still short and I cannot apply for transfer yet, I am preparing in advance." In-service police officers must have at least three years of work experience and meet certain English proficiency requirements, such as a TOEIC score of 625 or higher, to be eligible to apply for transfer to the Police University.
The main reason police constables are preparing for transfer to the Police University is the abolition of the promotion exam. The police promotion system is largely divided into promotion by evaluation, which is based on work performance and other factors, and promotion by examination, which is determined by written test results. Previously, the ratio of promotion by evaluation to promotion by examination was 5 to 5. However, starting this year, the promotion exam from constable to senior constable has been abolished, and the overall ratio of promotion by examination has been adjusted to 6 to 4 this year and will be 7 to 3 next year.
With the reduction in the ratio of promotion by examination, senior constables are also consistently attempting to transfer to the Police University. A senior constable in their sixth year on the job (age 30), who is preparing for the Police University transfer exam scheduled for November, said, "While working in the economic team of the investigation department, I thought studying special laws and other subjects would help in my work, which eventually led me to prepare for the transfer," adding, "Even on days off or after work, I sit at my desk and study for the exam." The number of senior constables who applied for transfer to the Police University has remained in the 100s, with 164 (75.2%) in the 2023 academic year, 115 (61.5%) in the 2024 academic year, and 125 (61.6%) in the 2025 academic year.
It appears that the number of field police officers aiming for transfer to the Police University will continue to increase. Oh Yoonseong, a professor in the Department of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, said, "As the path to promotion by examination is blocked or narrowed, young police officers have no choice but to look for other ways to seek promotion," adding, "From the Police University's perspective, it is an opportunity to train officers with practical experience, and for police officers, it is a good opportunity, so the number of transfer applicants will continue to rise."
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