Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Organizational Climate, Perceived Citizen Support, and Job Satisfaction of Police Officers: Findings from the Post-Grand Reform Era in South Korea

  • Published:
Asian Journal of Criminology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two major police reforms were introduced in South Korea in 1991 and 1999 to help bring about a shift from a colonial style of policing to a form more prevalent in developed economies pursuing the rule of law, observance of human rights, and the practice of democratic policing. We conclude that the findings from the present study, drawing on a survey of a national sample of 406 South Korean police officers, offer modest support for the efforts of the Grand Reform in its impact on police officers’ satisfaction with promotion and salary and benefits. While few demographic characteristics, with the exception of age and years of experience, were associated with job satisfaction, there is strong evidence for the relationship between organizational characteristics and job satisfaction. Management support and perceived citizen support of police are associated with both measures of satisfaction, promotion and salary/benefits, while the police officers’ relationship with their supervisors is less than stellar. Finally, officers who believe that the primary operating philosophy of the police is to serve the government appear to be satisfied with their jobs relative to their opportunity for promotion, which is perhaps a more critical measure for them than salary and benefits, reflecting the presence of a police organizational climate that is still rooted in the historical military culture of Korean police. The findings from this study suggest that more efforts are warranted in improving organizational climate if officers are to believe their primary goal is to serve the citizen, a fundamental element of democratic policing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. In this paper, we use the term South Korea interchangeably with Korea.

  2. The number of disciplined government officials was 6,825 from 2004 to 2007 and 44% of them were police officers, although police officers account for 10% of government officials (data was retrieved from http://www.kimhc.kr/common/board/listbody.html?a_gb=board&a_cd=13&a_item=0&page=15&po_no=320). Police officers are hired by the central government instead of local governments because Korea has a centralized policing system.

  3. O’Brien (2007) raised the question about the validity of VIF. He argued that the value of VIF needs to be assessed in the context of other factors that influence the variance of regression coefficients. However, in general, a VIF value that exceeds 10 indicates that there is a multi-collinearity problem. We followed the general rule.

  4. KNPA maintains a binary recruiting system to hire intelligent people. Policy makers believe that smart people will not apply to the police unless they are offered a management position. Currently, KNPA assigns those from a “Police Staff Candidate Course” or “Police College” to the patrol division or to the criminal investigation department. This policy is expected to decrease the conflict between line officers and supervisors.

References

  • Baek, H. (2000). The analysis of police reform. Seoul, Korea: Police Science Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barzelay, M. (1992). Breaking through bureaucracy. Berkeley, CA: University of California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayley, D. (1992). Comparative organization of the police in English-speaking countries. Crime and Justice, 15, 509–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benett, R. (1997). Job satisfaction among police constables: A comparative study in three developing nations. Justice Quarterly, 14, 295–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brogden, M., & Shearing, C. (1993). Policing for a new South Africa. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunetto, Y., & Farr-Wharton, R. (2003). The commitment and satisfaction of lower-ranked police officers: Lessons for management. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 26(1), 43–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buzawa, E., Austin, T., & Bannon, J. (1994). The role of selected sociodemographic and job-specific variables in predicting patrol officer job satisfaction: A reexamination ten years later. American Journal of Police, 13(2), 51–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, J. (2007). Making sense of police reforms. Theoretical Criminology, 11, 323–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crede, M., Chernyshenko, O., Stark, S., Dalal, R., & Bashshur, M. (2007). Job satisfaction as mediator: An assessment of job satisfaction’s position within the nomological. Journal of Occupational and Organization Psychology, 80, 515–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dantzker, M. (1992). An issue for policing – educational level and job satisfaction: A research note. American Journal of Police, 12(2), 101–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dantzker, M., & Kubin, B. (1998). Job satisfaction: The gender perspective among police officers. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 23, 19–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davey, J., Obst, P., & Sheehan, M. (2001). Demographic and workplace characteristics which add to the prediction of stress and job satisfaction within the police workplace. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 16, 29–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeHart-Davis, L., & Pandey, S. (2005). Red tape and public employees: Does perceived rule dysfunction alienate managers? Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 15, 133–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowler, K. (2005). Job satisfaction, burnout, and perception of unfair treatment: The relationship between ethnicity and police work. Police Quarterly, 8, 476–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberger, R., Cummings, J., Armeli, S., & Lynch, P. (1997). Perceived organizational support, discretionary treatment, and job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 82, 812–820.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engel, R., & Worden, R. (2003). Police officers’ attitudes, behavior, and supervisory influences: An analysis of problem solving. Criminology, 41, 131–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fabrigar, L., Wegener, D., MacCallum, R., & Strahan, E. (1999). Evaluating the use of exploratory factor analysis in psychological research. Psychological Methods, 4, 272–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzpatrick, P., & Hunt, A. (1987). Critical Legal Studies: Introduction. Journal of Law and Society, 14, 1–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, H. (1977). Policing a free society. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, J. (1989). Police officer job satisfaction and community perceptions: Implications for community - oriented policing. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 26, 168–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halsted, A., Bromley, M., & Cochran, J. (2000). The effects of work orientations on job satisfaction among sheriffs’ deputies practicing community oriented policing. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 23, 82–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han, J., & Ling, L. (1998). Authoritarianism in the hypermasculinized state: Hybridity, patriarchy, and capitalism in Korea. International Studies Quarterly, 42, 53–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, D., Newman, D., & Roth, P. (2006). How important are job attitudes? Meta-analytic comparisons of integrative behavioral outcomes and time sequences. Academy of Management Journal, 49, 305–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herzberg, F. (1968). One more time: How do you motivate employees? Harvard Business Review, 46, 53–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoath, D., Schneider, F., & Starr, M. (1998). Police job satisfaction as a function of career orientation and position tenure: Implications for selection and community policing. Journal of Criminal Justice, 26, 337–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, V. (1982). The development of modern police agencies in the Republic of Korea and Japan: A paradox. Police Studies, 5, 3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hwang, E. (2008). Determinants of job satisfaction among South Korean police officers: The effect of urbanization in a rapidly developing nation. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 31, 694–714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Judge, T., Thoresen, C., Bono, J., & Patton, G. (2001). The job satisfaction–job performance relationship: A qualitative and quantitative review. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 376–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B. (2001). A study on the job satisfaction among rank and file police officers in Korea. Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice Journal, 11, 39–69 [Korean Language].

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. (2005a). Gender differences in the job satisfaction of public employees: A study of Seoul metropolitan government, Korea. Sex Roles, 52, 667–681.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. (2005b). Individual-level factors and organizational performance in government organizations. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 15, 245–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korea National Police Agency (KNPA). (2001). Vision for police in the 21st century. Seoul, Korea: KNPA [Korean Language].

    Google Scholar 

  • Korea National Police Agency (KNPA). (2005). Annual police policy manual for reform. Seoul, Korea: KNPA [Korean Language].

    Google Scholar 

  • Korea National Police Agency (KNPA). (2006). Annual police policy manual for reform. Seoul, Korea: KNPA [Korean Language].

    Google Scholar 

  • Krimmel, J., & Gormley, P. (2003). Tokenism and job satisfaction for policewomen. Criminal Justice Periodicals, 28, 73–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. (1990). Morning calm, rising sun: national character and policing in South Korea and in Japan. Police Studies, 13(3), 91–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. (2002a). A study of Korean police sergeants’ stress. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 26, 85–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. (2002b). A study on the relationship between training and job satisfaction of the police. Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice Journal, 14, 135–157 [Korean Language].

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. (2004). The impact on the job satisfaction of subordinates to transformational leadership of police chief. Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice Journal, 17, 261–288 [Korean Language].

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. (2006). A study on the effect of organizational culture of the police on the job satisfaction. Unpublished Dissertation, Seoul, Korea: Dongguk University. [Korean Language]

  • Lee, K. (2008). A study on the effects of job-related attitudes on the intention to leave in rank and file police officers. Journal of Korea Security Science, 16, 189–28 [Korean Language].

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H., Cayer, J., & Lan, Z. (2006). Changing federal government employee attitudes since the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 26(1), 21–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lilley, D., & Hinduja, S. (2007). Police officer performance appraisal and overall satisfaction. Journal of Criminal Justice, 35, 137–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lipsky, M. (1980). Street-level bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services. New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow, A. (1943). A theory of motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maynard-Moody, S., & Musheno, M. (2000). State agent or citizen agent: Two narratives of discretion. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 10, 329–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moon, B. (2004). The politicization of police in South Korea: A critical review. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 27, 128–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moon, B. (2006). The influence of organizational socialization on police officers’ acceptance of community policing. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 29, 704–722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moon, B., & Zager, L. (2007). Police officers’ attitudes toward citizen support: Focus on individual, organizational and neighborhood characteristic factors. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 30, 484–497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moon, Y., Huh, Y., & Kim, H. (2009). A study on police officers' perception on social capital and job satisfaction. Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice Journal, 35, 99–136 [Korean Language].

    Google Scholar 

  • Morash, M., Kwak, D., Hoffman, V., Lee, C., Cho, S., & Moon, B. (2008). Stressors, coping resources and strategies, and police stress in South Korea. Journal of Criminal Justice, 36, 231–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nalla, M. (2009). Democratic policing: A comparison of police officers’ perceptions of their role and functions in transitional societies. Journal of Criminal Justice and Security, 11, 420–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nalla, M., & Boke, K. (2009). Police organizational culture and job satisfaction: A comparison of law enforcement officers’ perceptions in two Midwestern states in the US. Journal of Criminal Justice and Security, 6, 55–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, R. (2007). A caution regarding rules of thumb for variance inflation factors. Quality and Quantity, 41, 673–690.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, D., & Gaebler, T. (1992). Reinventing government. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paoline, E. (2004). Shedding light on police culture: An examination of officers’ occupational attitudes. Police Quarterly, 7, 205–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paoline, E., Myers, S., & Worden, R. (2000). Police culture, individualism, and community policing: Evidence from two police departments. Justice Quarterly, 17, 575–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parks, R., Mastrofski, S., Reiss, A., Worden, R., Terrill, W., DeJong, C., et al. (1998). St. Petersburg project on policing neighborhoods: A study of the police and the community. Report to the St. Petersburg Police Department.

  • Pratt, J., & Beaulieu, P. (1992). Organizational culture in public accounting: size, technology, rank, and functional area. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 17, 667–684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pyo, C. (2002). An empirical research on the public perception of the police and various police reform initiatives in Korea: 1999-2001. Paper presented at the Asian Association of Police Studies, Hong Kong.

  • Reiner, R. (1978). The blue-coated worker. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades, L., & Eisenberger, R. (2002). Perceived organizational support: A review of the literature. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87, 698–714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberg, R., & Bonn, S. (2004). Higher education and policing: Where are we now? Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 27, 469–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seltzer, R., Alone, S., & Howard, G. (1996). Police satisfaction with their jobs: Arresting officers in the District of Columbia. Police Studies, 19, 25–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seo, G. (1997). A study on job satisfaction of police officers. Korean Association of Public Safety and Criminal Justice Journal, 6, 295–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skolnick, J. (1994). Justice without trial: Law enforcement in democratic society (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slate, R., Johnson, W., & Colbert, S. (2007). Police stress: A structural model. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 22, 102–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker, G. (1979). Managing discretion: A central dilemma of police administration. Public Administration Review, 39, 190–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, D., & Bennett, S. (1994). Officers’ response to community policing: Variations on a theme. Crime & Delinquency, 40, 354–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, B., & Davis, B. (2003). Job satisfaction in the public sector: The role of the work environment. American Review of Public Administration, 33, 70–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, K., & Kassekert, A. (2009). Linking management reform with employee job satisfaction: Evidence from federal agencies. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 20, 413–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, S., & Rosenblatt, P. (2008). Confucian family values and childless couples in South Korea. Journal of Family Issues, 29, 571–591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yim, Y., & Schafer, B. (2009). Police and their perceived image: How community influence officers’ job satisfaction. Police Practice & Research, 10, 17–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeitz, G., Johannesson, R., & Ritchie, J. (1997). An employee survey measuring total quality management practices and culture. Group & Organization Studies, 22, 414–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, J., Thurman, Q., & He, N. (1999). Sources of job satisfaction among police officers: A test of demographic and work environment modes. Justice Quarterly, 16, 154–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1118, USA

    Mahesh K. Nalla

  2. Korean National Police, School of Criminal Justice, University of Central Oklahoma, 100 North University Drive, Campus Box 182, Liberal Arts, Suite 203D, Edmond, OK, 73034, USA

    Wook Kang

Authors
  1. Mahesh K. Nalla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wook Kang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahesh K. Nalla.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nalla, M.K., Kang, W. Organizational Climate, Perceived Citizen Support, and Job Satisfaction of Police Officers: Findings from the Post-Grand Reform Era in South Korea. Asian Criminology 7, 153–171 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11417-012-9127-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11417-012-9127-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation