Abstract This study explores depolicing among South Korea's riot police in response to negative media coverage, addressing the under-researched dynamic between media and police in East Asian democracies with authoritarian legacies. Using structural equation modeling, it analyses 2023 survey data from 737 riot officers to assess whether perceived media criticism reduces proactive policing, and whether self-legitimacy and external legitimacy mediate this relationship. Findings show a significant correlation between negative media exposure and depolicing behaviors. Officers who feel undermined by the media are more reluctant to pursue investigatory actions or assertive crowd control. Interestingly, self-legitimacy partially mediates this effect: negative coverage increases officers’ confidence in their authority while reducing willingness to act proactively. This reflects a paradox where criticism strengthens internal resolve but weakens public engagement. The study highlights how, despite democratization, South Korean riot police still face institutional strains rooted in authoritarian pasts, compounded by media scrutiny and staffing shortages. Persistent negative framing contributes to a sense of abandonment, deterring officers from using minimal force when necessary. Unlike Western contexts—such as the Ferguson Effect—South Korea's crisis is historically embedded and institutional. The results challenge the assumption that media criticism enhances police accountability. Instead, sustained negative exposure may hinder effective policing and erode public safety. To address these issues, the study recommends improving media-police relations, enhancing officer training, boosting community engagement, and strengthening recruitment. This is the first comprehensive study of media-police dynamics in South Korea's transitional context, offering insights into how legitimacy, reform, and democratic consolidation interact within post-authoritarian security sectors.
Yu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.