The Korea Local Administration Review

The purpose of this study is to empirically derive implications regarding the
promotion and stable establishment of the autonomous police system by verifying
the predictive factors affecting the perception of the Korean autonomous police
system. For this purpose, we used survey data from “Study on the Implementation
and Settlement of the Korean Autonomous Police System (I)” and attempted to
analyze adults living in Seoul, Sejong, and Jeju, which introduced the autonomous
police system on a pilot basis. According to the detailed analysis results, the factors
that significantly influenced the perception of the Korean autonomous police system
were largely in the order of satisfaction with life safety work, perception of local
safety, and satisfaction with transportation work. On the other hand, trust in the
police could not be a valid antecedent variable in the perception of the autonomous
police system. These results suggest that systematic efforts may be needed to improve
satisfaction with specific autonomous police work and to secure local safety as
perceived by citizens. Above all, strategic public security administration may be
needed to secure a positive perception of the autonomous police system by
improving the satisfaction of life safety work such as protecting the socially
disadvantaged, and practical management measures for community police activities
are required to promote the safety of the community.