Public Perceptions of Law and Justice in South Korea: Are they Cynical or Willing to Obey? Yung Hyeock Lee, Ph.D. Korea National Police Univ. ㄴ

Importance of Legitimacy Gaining public support Voluntary abiding by law when no police presence Agree to exercise of discretion

Legitimacy is a ‘murky’ concept Although value and approve governmental policy, disobey through calculations Everyone prefers that everyone else obey the law, but… Tax, military duty No due outcome Develop unlawful alternatives

Tyler’s process-based model of regulation Legitimacy comprises of instrumental and normative aspects 1 Police performance deterrence distributive justice) 2 procedural justice

Legitimacy Even if you think the decision made by police is wrong, it should be accepted in the first place. I comply with police interventions when I involve with disturbance occurred by drunkenness. I am willing to report crime related information to the police.

Fair Justice The police enforce the law with equal and consistent criterion. The police enforce the law fairly and objectively. The police respect opinion of people.

Deterrence If people violate the law, they will be punished for sure. If people violate the law, they will get sufficient punishment. If people violate the law, they will be swiftly punished. Police Performance The police catch criminals well. The police prevent crimes well.

Cynicism The law must be abided by. When people follow the law, it will only give them inconveniences How many times have you received ticket or citation from the police for traffic violation or disorderly behavior?

Model

Preliminary findings Fair Justice had positive effect on the beliefs to obey law enforcement authority. Fair Justice had negative effect on the cynicism toward the law. Deterrence had positive effect on the beliefs to obey law enforcement authority. Deterrence had negative effect on the cynicism toward the law. Police performance had positive effect on the beliefs to obey law enforcement authority. Police performance had no effect on the cynicism toward the law. The beliefs to obey law enforcement authority have positive effect on the cynicism toward the law.

Fair Justice Important but, Instrumental aspects is more important ex, Ghana, Jamaica, legitimacy deficit experience country?

Deterrence Certainty, severity, and swiftness of punishment Lower level of deterrence lead to lower legitimacy Learned from past experience Lower level of deterrence lead to higher cynicism

Performance The police are viewed as sole institution responsible for crime control Aggressive media Similar finding in Ghana ㄴ

Legitimacy and Cynicism: the case with South Korea 1.No natural duty, rather cause burdensom 2.Develop unlawful alternatives 3.Prefer everyone else obey the law, but they would prefer not to do so