In our modern society, crimes continue to increase, while they are being more and more violent and intelligent. Thus, the private demands for safety are increasing more than ever before. So far, the police has been responsible for the absolute majorit...
In our modern society, crimes continue to increase, while they are being more and more violent and intelligent. Thus, the private demands for safety are increasing more than ever before. So far, the police has been responsible for the absolute majority of the public security needs. However, people's demands for security would be met only when the roles are appropriately divided between police and private security services with enhanced cooperation between them.The private security industry in Korea has developed from the simple concept of 'janitorship' controlling entrances/exits of people and vehicles at the gates of apartment housing complexes or factories to security of the important national facilities, mechanic security using the high-end equipments, escort security in charge of transporting valuable items and cash, security services for domestic and foreign VIPs and professional sportsmen, and other diverse security services.However, such private security services have been available to certain organizations, groups or upper-class people who could afford to pay for them, which means that there is a long way to go toward the professional private security services for ordinary people and the society at large.The public security services by the national organizations focused on the ex post facto safety should be differentiated from the private security services for prevention of crimes and people's safety. Namely, even if budget and manpower for the police should be increased, ordinary people's needs for security would not be met all. Although huge budget should be spent for the social security services, the effects would not be felt at the bottom of the society, because of the passive sense of responsibilities of the public organizations, lack of their service spirits and so on.Although the government is obliged to enhance the social security net by inducing the private capitals, while publicizing it positively, the departmental sectionalism seems to impede such obligations.The purpose of this study was to address the problems of the private security service system in Korea in comparison with the foreign cases. The problems can be divided into three-fold at large. First, a general security management act is not operated, while the status of the private security services is not clearly defined. Second, the private security services are not professional enough. Third, an effective education and training system on the private security services has yet to be operated. The solutions are streamlining of the relevant laws, granting of a quasi-judicial authority to the private security services or enhancement of their legal status, enhancement of their professionalism through a license system, establishment of a special research institute for effective education, training and supervision of the private security services, etc.While the needs for more budgets continue to increase for a balanced national development, the people cannot afford to rely on the public security services provided for by the nation for their safety. Namely, the easy-going social security policies should remain unchanged no longer. In this regard, it is essential to continue to research into effective policy alternatives enhancing the synergic effects of public and private security services.Then, it is expected that a desirable cooperative system would be established between public and private security services, satisfying people's increasing demands for security services.