A police stand that is empty due to understaffing. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept.17 (Korea Bizwire) – The National Police Agency of South Korea has closed over 200 police substations (police box or police stand) since announcing a nationwide closure plan last October, according to recent data.
The closures, which have disproportionately affected Seoul, reflect an apparent sensitivity to concerns about potential security gaps in certain areas.
Representative Lee Hae-sik of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, revealed that 213 police substations were shuttered between October 2022 and May 2023.
Seoul saw the highest number of closures at 109, followed by Busan with 50 and Daegu with 25.
The closures have left 741 substations operational across the country. South Jeolla Province now has the most with 122, followed by North and South Gyeongsang Provinces (93 each), North Jeolla Province (92), and South Chungcheong Province (82).
Police substations have faced criticism for failing to fulfill their intended purpose, often left unstaffed or poorly managed, rendering them ineffective during emergencies.
As of May, only 446 officers were assigned to the 741 substations nationwide, highlighting a significant staffing shortfall. In an extreme case, two substations in Gwangju reported zero staff.
In response to these issues, the National Police Agency announced plans last October to close 576 out of 952 substations (60.5%) to improve policing efficiency.
However, the agency quickly backtracked following public outcry over potential security gaps and increased crime vulnerability, particularly in rural areas.
The debate over substation closures continues to simmer, with lawmakers from non-metropolitan areas consistently voicing opposition during National Assembly meetings.
Critics argue that closing substations in sparsely populated rural areas could lead to noticeable security vacuums.
While the closure of rural substations hasn’t been completely halted, it has been temporarily suspended. The National Police Agency stated, “We are currently conducting our annual nationwide review of substation operations until next month. Future plans for substation reductions are undecided.”
Experts suggest that the government needs to thoroughly analyze the costs and effectiveness of police substations to determine the best policy direction.
Professor Kwak Dae-kyung of Dongguk University’s College of Police and Criminal Justice said, “It’s problematic to use government resources inefficiently just for the psychological comfort of local residents. We need to consider various alternatives such as increased patrols, emergency bells, and more CCTV cameras.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
