Research on the introduction of Tourist Police System

Seung-Il Moon1, Sean-Il Kwon2, In-Ho Choi3 and Ju-Seok Park4

1Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea

moonsi921@hanyang.ac.kr 2Edelman Korea Inc., Seoul, Korea

ks3777@naver.com 3Chungwoon University, Choongnam, Korea enochoi@naver.com(Corresponding Author)

4University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea Ju310@hanmail.net

Abstract. Tourism, the world's biggest single industry, is one of the high added-value growth industries of the 21st century along with information and environment industry etc. The purpose of this research is to propose a legal framework for introduction of Tourist Police system, which accords with the government's agenda to advance tourism industry. As a solution, Special Tourist Police System should be set up, in which administrative public servants are given judicial police power to investigate crimes that occur in the specialization. This will provide high quality security service to citizens.

Key Words : Tourist Police, Special Business Police System

1 Introduction

There's has been a continuous growth of about 10% in tourists from China(39.7%), Thailand(36.5%) and Malaysia(41.9%) etc. due to the launching of prime travel package that intends to attract Chinese and southeastern female tourists. There also has been an increase in tourists from America and Europe that compose mostly of business tourists: 8.3% and 8.0% respectively. Moreover, tourists from Oceania have favorable records of 12.0%, which largely accounts for the increase in tourists from Australia due to strong Austrailian exchange and more stop-over tourists.

However, a recent case on the unfair collection of fee by the call van proves the necessity to introduce Tourism Police System to end illegal service towards the foreign visitors and improve the safety of Korea's tourist environment. In addition, this research also focuses on transforming to tourist-friendly environment and improving Korea's reputation as the tourist site, and developing consensus on the necessity to introduce Tourist Police System in major places such as Kyungbok Palace, Myungdon and Insa-dong.

Therefore, the purpose of this research lies in government's effort to increase competitiveness in the tourism industry through introduction of Tourist Police

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System. In order to do so, regional municipalities where tourism is the major industry must understand the importance of enhancing security environment as well as the introduction of the Tourist Police.

2 Theoretical Consideration

2.1 Importance of Tourism and Safety

The dangers that tourists perceive are variables that affect the international tourism. So the factors that influence these variables are also signified. If a tourist does not feel safe but feel threatened, that will lead to negative perception of the tourist site, which will eventually lead to decrease in tourists and damage on the tourism industry overall[5].

2.2 Tourism and Crime

Tourists are easy targets for crimes because they aren't aware of the local situations and dangerous areas, which make harder for them to get prepared to respond easily.

Tourists are generally aware of the fact that they are easy targets for crimes. This is because the tourists usually carry a lont of cash, don't consider language and dress code and visit unusual places.

2.3 Tourist Police System

The definition of Tourist Police System is a system that protect lives and properties of tourists from many threats. These are special policmen who work for tourists' protection and security.[4].

There has been an increase of countries that are introducing Tourist Police to bring down crimes against tourists and provide the best tourism service. For example, Greece, Austrailia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Peru and Kenya have introduced such system as well as Thailand. And Vietnam and Philippines have benchmarked Thailand's system.

3 The work scope of special judicial police and its system

3.1 The work scope of special judicial police

Actually, there's not much difference between the special judicial police and general judicial police except there there's limit in the type of crimes they deal with as well as jurisdiction. So it's justifiable to state that their work scopes are the same. So the special judicial police investigates ons cases within the specific law and their role

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is to collect evidence of the crimes, as well as assisting other investiation. They must perform their duties under the guidance of a prosecutor and must forward the case to the regional prosecutor office[2][7].

4 Plans to introduce Tourist Police System

4.1 Establishment of comprehensive special police unit for tourism

To respond effectively to the demand in tourism security, maximum number of security personnels should be deployed. To do so, the divided work scopes among the Cultural Heritage Association and its offices and branches, Hyeonchungsa Shrine Office, Chilbaeguichong Shrine Office and King Sejong's remains management office etc. must be united under one organization to maximize synergy effect in strengthening security. In addition, public servants from level 4 to 9 who work for preservation of cultural heritage in special city district, metropolitan city, city, town and province must be integrated for management. And there will be a way to absorb special tourism police unit into the general police institution, or expand the jurisdiction of special tourism police unit[2][6].

4.2 Strengthening of cooperative system between the Police and Tourism Manager

To respond to the security demand in the tourist area, there must be comprehensive plan to cover and define wider areas for crime prevention and apprehension, considering the indefiniteness of the area for tourism. Therefore, there must be close connection between the security center of the tourist areas and nearby towns and the Tourism Manager.

In UK, British Transport Police and Home Office Police FOrces have established a co-ordinated policing protocol, which allows them to closely cooperate by setting up provisions concerning procedure, crime reporting, issue processing, transfer of notification and division of responsibilities etc. [1][2].

5 Conclusion

In southern part of Jeju Island, 25 combat and conscripted policemen were deployed at major tourist sites from 2004. They prevented robberies and provided geographical information near the Ilchulbong and Songak Mountain, enhancing satisfaction among the tourists. They were also fluently conversational in English, Japanese and Chinese, which enabled them to provide better service especially in the areas of site guide, unfair fee collection, crime prevention, forceful sales by the local merchants and other irrationality. The work hours for these policemen were from the opening hour of a tourist site to the closing hour.

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The role of tourist policemen may seem simple, however, they are the people who are standing besides the tourists and can settle problems and discomforts that tourists may have and improve environment for them to enjoy. This is why the Tourist Police System must be enacted and introduced as soon as possible.

References

1. Kim Chun Hwan(2004) special administrative law lecture, a publishing department of Chosun University

2. Kim Hee Ok(1990) special judicial police management, civil service examination research, civil service examination

3. Shin Teak Hyun•Lee Yong Sang•Do Jung Suk(2006). Research in an efficiency plan for public trains peace system- The Study on the public trains peace system of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation, Korean Society for Railway Vol. 9 4th edition

4. Lee Young Nam(2009), The role and functions of tourist police in Gangwon province, police science study Apr. 2nd edition

5. Lee Young Sik•Lee Duk Young(2008), Study on the public peace environment and tourists' safety consciousness, Korean Association for national police magazine Vol. 10 2nd edition

6. Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (2007). Study on the standard operation model development of municipal police, Council of municipal police of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs

7. Ministry of Environment (2005), education textbook of an environment judicial police, Ministry of Environment

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