• Korean Security Journal
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• no.33
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• pp.197-228
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• 2012

The private security industry in Korea has rapidly proliferated. While the industry has grown quickly, though, private security officers have recently been implicated in incidents involving violence, demonstrating an urgent need for systematic reform and regulation of private security practices in Korea. Due to its quasi-public service character, the industry also risks losing the public's favor if it is not quickly disciplined and brought under legitimate government regulation: the industry needs professional standards for conduct and qualification for employment of security officers. This paper shares insights for the reform of the Korean private security industry through a study of the licensing and training requirements for private security businesses in the United States, mainly focusing on the Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act (hereinafter the PSOEAA) and the California system. According to the PSOEAA, aspiring security officers shall submit to a criminal background check (a check of the applicants' criminal records). Applicants' criminal records should include not only felony convictions but also any other moral turpitude offenses (involving dishonesty, false statement, and information on pending cases). The PSOEAA also allows businesses to do background checks of their employees every twelve months, enabling the employers to make sure that their employees remain qualified for their security jobs during their employment. It also must be mentioned that the state of California, for effective management of its private security sector, has established a professional government authority, the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, a tacit recognition that the private security industry needs to be thoroughly, professionally, and actively managed by a professional government authority. The American system provides a workable model for the Korean private security industry. First, this paper argues that the Korean private security industry should implement a more strict criminal background check system similar to that required by the PSOEAA. Second, it recommends that an independent professional government authority be established to oversee and enforce regulation of Korea's private security industry. Finally, this article suggests that education and training course be implemented to provide both diverse training as well as specialization and phasing.