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
publicʼs 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.