South Korean Police propose new patrol unit amid shrinking personnel

The South Korean government is planning to establish a new ‘Ansim Patrol Unit’ to enhance crime prevention following a series of violent incidents, including a recent knife attack in Incheon. This move comes as the existing regional prevention patrol force has seen a significant reduction in personnel.

Data submitted to the National Assembly shows that the number of personnel in the regional prevention patrol unit dropped from 2,630 at the end of 2024 to 878 by September this year, a decrease of approximately 67%. This reduction occurred as the police redistributed existing staff to bolster investigative departments following criminal justice reforms. While investigative roles increased by 2,836 positions, over 92% of these were filled by reallocating personnel from other sectors such as crime prevention, administration, and security.

Critics and field officers have raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of this ‘personnel shuffling.’ There are doubts about whether a new unit can provide meaningful prevention if existing patrol resources are being continuously depleted. Experts suggest that instead of temporary personnel adjustments, the police need a long-term supply plan and a system to manage high-risk individuals through better information sharing between agencies.