[MZ Police Officer] "I Want to Be the Last Safety Net in Ordinary Life"...A Rookie APO's Resolution

Preventing Recurrence of Domestic Violence...
Focusing on Early Intervention
Opening Hearts is the Core of the APO's Role
"Seeing the Person Behind the Case, Not Just the Case Itself"

Editor's NoteGeneration Z is arriving. We are living in an era where new recruits in their 20s and 30s are shaping the future of organizational culture. The police are no exception. The police force is composed of various departments such as criminal investigation, investigation, security, intelligence, traffic, administration, public relations, audit, and women and juvenile divisions. The work environment differs depending on whether it is a provincial headquarters, police station, mobile unit, or precinct and police box, and the tasks vary greatly from region to region. Through the eyes of the youngest police officers, we introduce their departments and listen to their vivid stories about work and life as they see it.

"I wanted to be the first to meet the victims and stand by them on the front lines."

On July 17, at Jongno Police Station in Seoul, Officer Noah Kim (34) cited his six years of experience at a child protection agency as the reason he became an APO (Anti-abuse Police Officer). He especially recalled a case of child neglect he encountered at the time. He visited a house filled with trash every day to meet a father and son. While all related agencies recommended separating the father and son, Officer Kim, who had observed them closely, thought differently. Instead of breaking their strong bond, he resolved the issue by transforming the environment, which was the direct cause of the problem. Officer Kim said, "The last time I met them, the father wrote me a nearly 30-page letter in a small notebook, and the son gave me a song he composed and wrote as a gift," adding, "I witnessed that if you empathize with the situation the person is in and think together, their life can improve."

Noah Kim, a Abuse Prevention Police Officer in the Women's and Juvenile Division at Jongno Police Station, is conducting an emergency phone consultation. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Preventing Recurrence of Domestic Violence... Focusing on Early Intervention

As he hoped, Officer Kim is now serving as an APO, protecting people rather than just handling cases, and has been in the position for three months. At the Women's and Juvenile Division of Jongno Police Station, Officer Kim is responsible for protecting victims of relational crimes such as domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of people with disabilities. When a report comes in, Officer Kim is the first to meet the victim. He said, "Because I am the first to meet the victim, I can accurately assess what measures are needed for the family," and added, "I can proactively share directions for action or intervention and connect the local community network."

Officer Kim manages about 30 families and meets with an average of two to three victims per day for consultations. The most common crime he encounters is domestic violence. He said, "Often, it starts with a minor argument, but I frequently see cases where the husband assaults the wife due to alcohol," and added, "Many perpetrators are elderly, intoxicated, or have mental illnesses, so situations often require a combination of emergency temporary measures and urgent hospitalization." He continued, "There are also many cases where the perpetrator becomes obsessively attached, leading to serious harm, or where violence is repeated, so I pay special attention to early intervention."

Noah Kim, a Abuse Prevention Police Officer in the Juvenile Division of Jongno Police Station, is being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Opening Hearts is the Core of the APO's Role

Empathy becomes a powerful tool when helping those involved in cases. Officer Kim always makes eye contact with the victim and begins by saying, "Just meeting me takes great courage," and "It's amazing that you've endured so far." Officer Kim said, "About 70% of my conversations with victims are focused on listening," and added, "Many victims are tense or wary because I am a police officer, so I start by approaching them as one person to another to put them at ease."

He also approaches at the pace at which the person involved opens up. Officer Kim recalled, "There was a family with repeated reports of elder abuse, and at first, the victim refused to talk at all," adding, "But when I visited in person and met face to face, the victim eventually opened up." He said, "Keeping 'small promises,' such as the date of the next contact or counseling session, is also one way to gain the trust of those involved."

Since each victim's situation is different, Officer Kim focuses on providing tailored support. This is because support must be appropriate to each individual situation, whether it is counseling, medical, legal, or financial assistance. He recalled a case where a mother reported domestic violence by her son, who had a history of mental illness. Officer Kim said, "Although it was reported as domestic violence, from the mother's perspective, it must have been heartbreaking for everyone to say her son, whom she cared for throughout his life with mental illness, was at fault," adding, "I tried to help her recover by asking, 'When were you happiest living with your child, and what needs to change to return to that moment?'"

Officer Noah Kim is meeting and talking with the victim. Photo by Eunseo Lee

"Seeing the Person Behind the Case, Not Just the Case Itself"

Unlike solving a case or arresting a suspect, the results of his work are not always immediately visible, but Officer Kim's unseen efforts change the hearts of victims. He described the work of an APO as "not just about handling simple cases, but about seeing the person behind them." He said, "When I heard a victim say, 'Life felt meaningless and I was just waiting to die, but now I can sleep peacefully at night thanks to the police protection measures,' I felt rewarded as an APO," adding, "That's why I want to continue this work."

Officer Kim hopes to continue making small but meaningful changes in the daily lives of those involved in cases. He said, "I want to be remembered as a police officer who quietly supports people dreaming of an ordinary job, children, and family," and concluded, "I will continue to be someone's last safety net and stay by the side of those who are hurt until the end."