Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
South Korea to crack down on fake police uniforms before Halloween
South Korea’s National Police Agency will crack down on police-like uniforms and equipment from Oct.
26 to Nov.
1, around Halloween on Oct.
31.
The nationwide action targets making, selling, distributing or using items that resemble police uniforms or gear.
Police say these items can help people impersonate officers and confuse real officers working in crowded areas.
Under South Korean law, civilians who wear or possess police or similar uniforms and equipment can face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 3 million won.
Police will check online marketplaces and major shopping sites, and ask them to block searches for terms such as “police uniform”; 54 online retailers will also face increased checks.
Police are asking people to avoid even costume items that could be mistaken for real police clothing at night or in crowds.
A total of 4,594 officers will be deployed in five busy Seoul areas, including Itaewon and Hongdae, and from Oct.
30 to Nov.
1 authorities may control vehicles and restrict crowd movement if areas become congested.
South Korea’s National Police Agency will conduct a nationwide crackdown on the manufacture, sale and distribution of police-like uniforms and equipment from 26 October to 1 November.
The operation aims to prevent crimes involving people impersonating police officers and avoid confusion during police work.
Police will check online portals, second-hand trading platforms and 54 major online retailers, and will conduct field checks in areas including Itaewon and Hongdae.
People who are not police officers can face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 3 million won for wearing or possessing police or similar uniforms and equipment.
Police also urged people to avoid costumes that could be mistaken for real police uniforms, especially at night or in crowded places.
- Who
- South Korea’s National Police Agency and regional police agencies.
- What
- A nationwide crackdown on the manufacture, sale and distribution of police-like uniforms and equipment.
- When
- 26 October to 1 November 2026.
- Where
- Nationwide in South Korea, including online platforms and areas such as Itaewon and Hongdae.
- Why
- To prevent police impersonation crimes and reduce confusion during police public-safety activities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Police and local authorities carried out a joint crowd-preparedness inspection in Itaewon, according to a caption in Kyunghyang Shinmun.
The National Police Agency announced the nationwide crackdown.
Regional police agencies are scheduled to conduct the crackdown.
Police plan to introduce vehicle controls in stages depending on crowd density in major Seoul crowd-gathering areas.
- Crackdown period
- 26 October to 1 November 2026
- Retailers
- 54 major online sellers will receive increased scrutiny
- Penalty
- Up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 3 million won
- Seoul deployment
- 4,594 police officers assigned to five major crowd-gathering areas
- Areas named
- Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu, Myeong-dong and Ikseon-dong
3 sources
What people are saying
Even in the case of police cosplay clothing and accessories that do not amount to similar uniforms or equipment, we ask people to refrain from selling and using them because, in special situations such as at night or in crowded places, the public may mistake them for police officers.