PUPD lieutenant visits South Korean police force

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Patrolling the streets in South Korea has given a Purdue University Police Department lieutenant a different perspective on law enforcement.

Lt. Song Kang attended the 10th International Korean Law Enforcement Officers program in Seoul, South Korea, in December. It is an international seminar for foreign law enforcement officers with Korean heritage to learn more about their heritage, establish cultural identity, benchmark law enforcement standards and encourage worldwide cooperation, he said.

The opportunity for this trip was the result of an effort from President Mitch Daniels to assist the Korean Consulate General in Chicago. The consulate sent out a request to several university chancellors and presidents in the Midwest asking them to help establish a mentoring program to guide Korean students on campus, designate an officer to promote and encourage outreach programs and communicate with the consulate's office to help it better serve its constituents.

"The Korean Consulate was thrilled that President Daniels was one of the few executives who was very enthusiastic and completely supportive of their request," Kang said. "He recommended my name for the International Korean Officers program, and I was extremely excited to participate."

For the 2015 event there were 12 officers, including a sheriff's deputy from Atlanta; a New York Police Department detective; a Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police officer; Toronto Police Service officer; two officers from Australia; and one each from Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ecuador, Kang said.

He learned that, despite the cultural differences, all law enforcement officers' jobs are exactly alike. On one of his patrol nights, he patrolled the busy club district and saw a somewhat familiar scene.

"As we walked into Seoul's Hong-Dae (Hong-Ik University) police station, I saw several family members arguing, a young female tourist crying and trying to file a theft report and several other cases in the lobby. It was chaotic, but all the participants felt like they were back home in their own stations," he said. "We may speak different languages, but we all do the same job."

Kang said he also learned a shocking difference about the use of deadly force by officers in Korea. During a simulated firearms training exercise he, and the other officers from the U.S., were shocked to see that the target illustration only featured the lower body of a suspect.

"We were even more surprised that the use of deadly force was strongly discouraged and that the trainees at the police academy were taught to aim at the lower extremities," he said. "The gun laws in South Korea are some of the strongest in the world, so I cannot accurately compare the threat from gun violence there and the subsequent need for deadly force, to the threat American officers face."

Words of wisdom after the session from the police academy chief left a lasting impression on Kang's philosophy on criminal justice.

"The academy chief told us that it was our duty and obligation to protect all citizens, even the criminals," he said.

Kang also got to see how police opened up their world to the community. He said their active use of social media to disseminate important information; display positive messages, such as officers that are role models, and heroic actions, has prompted him to be more active on social media. He also noted how important it seemed that authorities opened up the police stations to the general public, removing psychological and physical barriers between community organizations and officers.

Learning was a large part of the experience, but Kang also got to teach a 15-30-minute session on tactics used at Purdue's police department. He shared active-shooter response techniques learned from experience with campus shootings.

"I shared how we respond, how we practice and how our tactical approach has adapted and changed to different elements over the years," he said.

Kang plans to take what he experienced and build upon what PUPD already has. The department offers many programs for the community, but he wants to expand outreach and launch other community policing events and programs. He also is more willing to take advantage of local media, social media and other technological options to spread a positive message, he said.

In his very short week, one thing stood out to him above all others.

"When we visited the police academy we saw thousands of cadets eating in the cafeteria, marching in formation and learning in the classroom. It was the way they looked at us with admiration and respect that I will never forget," Kang said. 

Writer: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-1325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu

Source: Lt. Song Kang, 765-494-8221, sykang2@purdue.edu