Sometimes you unexpectedly find a real treasure during your everyday commute and the Korean National Police Heritage Museum located in Jongno District in central Seoul is such a place. Opened on October 14, 2005, the museum offers an overview of the history of Korea’s law enforcement agency and up-close-and-personal looks at what police officers do. Today our destination is the Korean National Police Heritage Museum, where we can appreciate the history and a wide range of service provided by Korean police.

There aren’t that many police museums around the world. Perhaps the most famous one would be the Paris Police Museum in France, which, interestingly, is not in an independent building, but situated in one of the Paris police stations. On the other hand, the stand-alone building of the Korean National Police Heritage Museum is more than just a collection of police-related displays. Here’s police officer Bae Hee-sook to explain more about the museum.

The Korean National Police Heritage Museum opened in October 2005 to showcase all sorts of rare and interesting police materials from all over the nation. Unlike other police museums, we have a series of interactive programs in which visitors are allowed to experience a range of police activities for themselves. We have about 260 thousand visitors annually, and between 700 and 1000 visitors a day on average.

The six-story museum stands about 30 meters from Seodaemun Station Exit 4 of subway line number five. The exhibits describe the history of Korean police force and public services provided by police. Strangely, the museum tour starts on the sixth floor. Let’s follow Officer Bae Hee-sook to the museum.

The museum has six floors and each floor has a theme. Visitors take an elevator to the sixth floor for an introductory video and work down the stairs to each floor for the tour. The fifth floor is for history, the fourth floor is for understanding police services, the third floor houses administrative offices for employees only, the second floor has a variety of interactive programs, and the first floor features dress-up and photo-taking zones.

When visitors get off the elevator on the sixth floor, they enter the introductory hall where a video describing the six-decade history of the Korean law enforcement agency established in 1945.

Visitors head to the history hall on the fifth floor after watching the video.

The fifth floor is devoted to the history of Korean law enforcement, from Joseon era police to modern police force. The historical developments are shown through photos and police equipment. There is also a memorial hall for police officers who died in service.

It is easy to get an overview of the Korean police history from all the photos, equipment, and medals arranged chronologically. But one display that catches people’s attention the most is a wall filled with the photos of police officers who were killed in the line of duty.

Visitors bow their heads in front of the photos to show their gratitude and admiration for the fallen officers. Officer Lee Sang-hoon, who devoted his life to defending the nation during the Korean War, and Inspector General Choi Gyu-shik, who were shot and killed by North Korean terrorists in 1968, are just a couple of honored officers on the wall. Some visitors even place flowers under the photos to remember their ultimate sacrifice.

One floor down is the hall of understanding, where visitors can see displays on police activities. Past the entrance where the Police Charter is hung is a series of detailed and realistic models showing police officers in action.

People usually think of investigation and traffic control as all there is to police activities. But there are several specialized forces, such as SWAT, the Han River patrol unit, the subway patrol force, and the mountain police. This is where people can learn about those special units.

The Korean SWAT forces were instrumental in counter-terrorism maneuvers during such international events as the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the G20 Summit. In addition, SWAT officers also take part in disaster relief and hostage rescues, winning ardent public adulation. No wonder the SWAT display is one of the hottest attractions in the museum. Once visitors take a tour of the fourth floor, they find that their appreciation for police officers who are dedicated to keeping public safety grow even deeper.

Now it’s time to experience what being a police officer is all about. The interactive experience course on the second floor is the most popular tourist stop. Here’s Officer Bae Hee-sook for more explanation.

On the second floor people can experience 12 different law enforcement activities. The most popular program is the virtual shooting range, where visitors above 11 years of age can each shoot ten rounds from the replicas of a 38mm police-issued pistol. Visitors can also learn about the principles of polygraph and find out what their fingerprints look like. They can also experience the workings of the 112 crime call center.

The nearly 100-square-meter shooting range is naturally most popular among visitors. But safety session is a must before anyone can enter the shooting range.

Stand up straight with the legs spread the shoulders’ width apart. Aim for the target by putting the target in the middle of the crosshair. Now shoot!

- Shooting was harder than I expected, but it was amazing.
- I tried to mimic a police officer, but shooting a gun is really difficult.

Next up is the montage-making experience. Montage refers to a drawing or a photo composite of a criminal made when actual photos are unavailable. An accurately drawn montage could be crucial in apprehending criminals, and visitors can try their hands at making montages here at the Korean Police Museum.

Montage is a French word for assembly. This interactive course allows you to make on the touch screen a montage of a criminal by combining 12 different facial shapes.

A montage is created by assembling different facial features of a criminal recollected by witnesses. Assuming that someone from their group is a perpetrator, visitors attempt to draw a montage by putting together different shapes of eyes, nose, mouth, and hair. Their end product is impressively similar to the real person.

- This is a montage-drawing session and I’m sketching a criminal’s face. It’s really amazing and it looks like a real person.
- It’s amazing to think that police catch bad guys this way.

The fingerprinting corner is also a must-see. Visitors can see their fingerprints by placing their thumbs on a live scanner, which projects the fingerprints on the screen.

Fingerprints of Koreans can be largely categorized into four types – arch, loop, whorl, and a mutated form. A visitor can scan one’s fingerprints on the scanner and see how fingerprints are used to identify and apprehend criminals.

In addition to fingerprints, lie detectors also come in handy in investigating a crime. Whether a suspect is telling the truth or not is determined by observing and recording physical changes, such as the heartbeat, temperature, and muscular reactions.

The interactive hall also has the handcuff trial corner and a mock prison. When can an ordinary person get to cuff someone if not in the Police Museum?

At visitor’s request the museum also teaches some self-defense moves. A lesson in self-defense boosts one’s confidence in protecting oneself.

There is even a simulated 112 crime and accident call center on the second floor. If you are in trouble, just dial 112 and help will come in a flash.

The first floor is called the farewell hall, for this is where the tour ends. On their way out visitors can try on police uniforms and take photos. The uniforms are available in all sizes, from children’s to adult’s, and there are even shoes, so visitors can really feel like a Korean police officer.

- I’ve only heard about how science is used in law enforcement. It was interesting to see how the clues inadvertently left by a criminal can be used to find the wrongdoer.
- I was able to get a virtual shooting experience, draw a montage, and even get locked up in a mock prison. I got to know what police does by experiencing various police activities. It was a great experience.

The museum is open all year round, except on Mondays and traditional holidays like Seollal and Chuseok, and admission is free. A visit to the Korean National Police Heritage Museum would make a great family outing, entertaining for adults and educational for children.