Self-Legitimacy among Police Officers in South Korea

• In Event: Roundtable: Policing in South Korea

Abstract

Police officers’ perceptions of their own legitimacy can significantly impact their performance and other organization outcomes. However, prior research on police legitimacy has primarily focused on how the general population perceives it. Little attention has been given to understanding how police officers themselves perceive their own legitimacy, what factors contribute to this self-legitimacy, and how it impacts their behavior and decision-making. Thus, this study aims to explore the potential predictors of self-legitimacy among officers, such as organizational justice, and its consequences, including citizen complaints and internal police misconduct. Data from cross-sectional surveys distributed to police officers in South Korea are utilized for this study. The findings shed light on the implications for theory, policing practices, and future research in this area.

Author

• Hyunjung Cheon, University of Texas at El Paso