[MZ Police Officer] "To Help Victims Who Feel Like Peers or Younger Siblings"... Aspiring to Be an All-Rounder in the Women and Youth Division

Editor's NoteThe Generation Z era is here. New employees in their 20s and 30s are shaping the future of organizational culture. The police force is no exception. The police are divided into various divisions, including criminal investigation, general investigation, security, intelligence, traffic, administration, public relations, audit, and women and youth. Work environments vary, from provincial headquarters and police stations to mobile units and local precincts, and the duties differ widely by region. From the perspective of the youngest officers, we introduce their departments and hear vivid stories about their thoughts on work and life.

"When I see cases that feel close to home, I can't help but feel sympathy and try to think of every possible way to help the victims."

Police Officer Seunghyun Ahn from the Women and Youth Division of Gwangju Police Station in Gyeonggi is posing. Photo by Dongju Yoon

On September 17 at the Gwangju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, Police Officer Seunghyun Ahn, 27, recalled a case involving a victim of dating violence who was around the same age. The victim was a woman in her early 20s who had no family to keep in touch with and was supporting herself through part-time jobs. She had been living without a guardian and suffered dating violence at the hands of the only person she trusted-her boyfriend. Officer Ahn said, "She was my peer, and not only was she living in a difficult environment, but she also felt like a younger sister to me, so I felt sorry for her. Each time, I try to think of every possible way to support the victims."

Encountering Relational Crimes from the Precinct... Wanting to Hear More from Those Involved

For the past two years and four months, Officer Ahn has been handling mostly relational crimes as part of the Women and Youth Investigation Team 3 at Gwangju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province. She deals with cases such as domestic violence, child abuse, dating violence, and sexual crimes. When a case is reported, she summons those involved for questioning and provides counseling to complainants. Due to the nature of the area-densely populated with apartment complexes and new schools being built-domestic violence is the most frequently reported crime, and juvenile cases such as theft by teenagers are also common.

Officer Ahn chose the Women and Youth Division because she often encountered domestic violence while working at Taejeon Precinct, an area with many apartment complexes, schools, and kindergartens. She said, "While working as a patrol team member in a neighborhood with many schools and kindergartens, I naturally came across cases of child abuse and juvenile incidents. I became curious about the stories of the people involved, beyond just the initial response. During one-on-one investigations, because it's just the two of us, people often cry or vent before they leave."

Given the nature of her department, which handles juvenile cases, Officer Ahn frequently interacts with students. She felt a sense of accomplishment when she was able to guide a high school girl who had stolen jelly from an unmanned store to a warning disposition. Officer Ahn recalled, "The high school student, who was preparing for a dance college entrance exam, admitted that she impulsively stole the jelly while struggling with weight loss. She sincerely apologized to the victim, which led to a warning disposition."

Police Officer Seunghyun Ahn of the Women and Youth Division at Gwangju Police Station in Gyeonggi is being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Dongju Yoon

'Waiting'-Listening with Empathy, Without Prejudice

Officer Ahn's strength lies in her "patience." She waits for those involved in cases to open up first. She said, "Even though I know the personal information and the outline of the case, it's important to listen to their stories with empathy and without prejudice. Rather than speaking first about what I already know, I ask broad questions, such as how they came to the police station, to encourage them to share their statements."

This strength also helps her approach those involved immediately after an incident occurs. Officer Ahn recalled, "We received a report that a newborn was not breathing. When we arrived, the baby was lying face down on the bed, not breathing, and was transported to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The guardian was grieving the unexpected loss, so I waited as long as time allowed and tried to empathize as much as possible."

Police Officer Seunghyun An of the Women and Youth Division at Gwangju Police Station in Gyeonggi is answering an emergency call. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Being Careful When Involving Oneself in Family Matters, but Never Alone

Because the Women and Youth Division deals with family matters, there are times when those involved are resistant. Officer Ahn said, "Some people ask, 'Why are you interfering in a marital dispute?' or 'Why are you calling us to the police station and making things worse?' It's always a delicate task to persuade people who express such resistance. In those situations, I try to explain the procedures in detail, saying, 'A report has been filed, so we need to check on it.'"

Whenever that happens, Officer Ahn reminds herself that she is not alone-she is part of 'one team.' Her team members are always willing to provide help and advice. She said, "Even for a single case, multiple team members work together on various aspects, such as taking custody of a suspect, detaining them in the holding cell, or attending a warrant review. In cases involving sexual violence victims, if the victim requests to be interviewed by a same-gender officer, we help each other by conducting the investigation, even if it's not our assigned case."

Officer Ahn said she wants to be remembered as a police officer who takes responsibility for her words and work. She concluded, "Regardless of how long I've been on the job, suspects and victims trust police officers as experts in criminal cases and entrust us with their cases. I want to be a police officer who judges and mediates without prejudice among those involved."