A test taker gets out of a police car and heads to the examination hall at Whimoon High School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the morning of 14 November, the day the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) for the 2025 academic year was held. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – Every year, South Korean police officers drive anxious students to their college entrance examination sites and deliver forgotten ID cards to test-takers. But what has long been viewed as a heartwarming tradition is now facing scrutiny from within the force itself.
According to the National Police Agency, officers provided 187 instances of assistance to students taking the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) on November 15, including 154 police car rides and nine deliveries of forgotten test admission tickets.
The practice has sparked debate among police officers, with many expressing their concerns on Blind, an anonymous workplace app. “Since when did escorting test-takers become our traditional duty?” one officer wrote. Others questioned how they would respond to emergency calls while transporting students.
“Are we taxi drivers?” another officer posted, reflecting growing frustration within the force. “We’ve lost our dignity, pride, and self-respect.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a field officer told Yonhap News Agency that the matter ultimately comes down to personal responsibility. “Students taking other important exams don’t request such special services from the police,” the officer said. “Many of us believe we should focus on our core duties.”
A family member brings his brother’s test identification slip to him in a police car at Yeouido Girls’ High School in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of 14 November, the day of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) 2025. (Yonhap)
However, the practice has its defenders within the force. “It’s just a brief commitment in the morning, and it’s something we can do to help,” another officer argued. “Giving students rides doesn’t prevent us from catching criminals.”
The Police Officers’ Duty Act defines their responsibilities as protecting citizens’ lives, bodies, and property, preventing and investigating crimes, and managing traffic. On exam day, the police deployed 11,343 personnel, including traffic officers, riot police, local police, and exemplary drivers, to manage traffic around test sites.
The debate extends beyond mere anecdotes, according to experts. “While police should certainly respond to life-threatening situations, these services don’t require law enforcement expertise,” said Lee Yun-ho, a professor of police administration at Dongguk University. “It’s reasonable for officers to question this practice.”
Lee suggested that while there is some merit to the service aspect of community policing, there needs to be a broader discussion between police and citizens about appropriate boundaries for such services.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
