On Halloween, wearing a police uniform or carrying equipment similar to police gear may lead to legal consequences. Businesses that sell or rent such items could also face penalties.
On Monday, the National Police Agency announced an intensified crackdown on the sale and use of police uniforms and equipment during Halloween week. This is due to concerns about potential safety issues caused by people wearing police uniforms in crowded areas on Halloween.
To prevent the rampant distribution of police-like uniforms and equipment, the police will enhance online monitoring for 2 weeks from October 25 to November 3, focusing on 54 major online retailers and second-hand trading platforms.
Under the Police Uniform and Equipment Act, civilians are illegal to wear police uniforms or similar attire or to possess police equipment. Those who violate the law may face up to six months in prison or fines of up to 3 million won (approximately $2,160).
This also applies to those who sell or rent such items. The law stipulates that manufacturing, selling, or renting police uniforms and equipment can result in up to one year in prison or fines of up to 10 million won (about $7,200).
However, officially licensed rental companies are exempt from these penalties. One rental company for specialized costumes indicated that they provide uniforms after verifying identification and supporting documents, such as shooting scripts. Rental requests for unverified purposes are not allowed.
