Exploring the Use of Body-Worn Cameras in Policing

The advancement of digital technology provides new opportunities for police work, but the interaction between police officers and body-worn cameras(BWCs) raises various complex issues. To maximize the positive effects of camera usage, police organizations must clearly recognize the limitations and potential side effects of the technology and adopt a balanced approach to address these challenges. It is therefore necessary to strengthen guidelines for the management, supervision, and security of BWCs and to derive social consensus on the purpose and boundaries of digital technology use. Body-worn cameras refer to devices that police officers wear or carry on their bodies to record audio and video footage of their job performance at close range, or other machines with similar functions. With the 2024 amendment of the 「Police Duties Execution Act」, BWCs have been classified as police equipment, establishing the legal basis and usage standards for their introduction through the National Police Agency's budget. This is expected to enhance human rights by securing evidence at crime scenes and deterring excessive use of force or other human rights violations. However, there is also concern that their use could increase paperwork, causing frontline officers to avoid utilizing the devices and leading to wasted budgets. In South Korea, the introduction of BWCs requires a clear definition of their purpose and policies based on empirical research. However, domestic prior studies are insufficient, and policies have been implemented without a clear purpose, making controversies inevitable in terms of technological, financial, legal, and ethical aspects. Thus, this study examines the issues surrounding South Korea's adoption of BWCs, which was benchmarked against foreign legislative cases, and discusses the limitations that may arise during this process.