Police step up crackdown on fake uniforms ahead of Halloween

The National Police Agency will launch a nationwide crackdown on imitation police uniforms and equipment from Monday through Nov. 1, ahead of Halloween. The weeklong operation will target production, sales and distribution, with online monitoring and patrols in popular gathering spots including Itaewon and Hongdae in Seoul. The agency cited concerns that fake uniforms could cause confusion or hinder police operations, as reportedly happened during the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush.

Civilians who wear or possess official or imitation police uniforms or equipment can face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 3 million won.

Police will work with the Korea Online Shopping Association to monitor major online shopping platforms and secondhand marketplaces.

Authorities plan to intensify inspections of 54 major online retailers and block searches for terms such as police uniform.

Korea separately prohibits civilians from wearing official military attire or uniforms that could make them difficult to distinguish from service members.

Police warned that even police-themed costumes and accessories that do not legally qualify as imitation uniforms could be mistaken for actual police attire, especially at night or in crowded areas.

Published Oct 25, 2026 4:20 pm KST

Police officers and officials install safety barriers near Itaewon Station in Seoul to manage crowds ahead of Halloween, Friday. Yonhap

Police will launch a nationwide crackdown on imitation uniforms and equipment ahead of Halloween amid concerns that such items could be used to impersonate officers or disrupt police operations.

According to the National Police Agency (NPA) Sunday, the weeklong operation will run from Monday through Nov. 1, targeting the production, sale and distribution of imitation police gear in cooperation with provincial and metropolitan police agencies.

Under the current law, civilians who wear or possess official or imitation police uniforms or equipment face up to six months in prison or fines of up to 3 million won ($2,260).

The crackdown follows concerns raised after the deadly 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, when people costumed in police uniforms were reportedly mistaken for actual officers, causing confusion and hindering rescue operations.

Similarly, Korea also restricts the unauthorized wearing of military uniforms under a separate law, which prohibits civilians from wearing official military attire or uniforms that could make them difficult to distinguish from actual service members.

During the Halloween period, police will work with the Korea Online Shopping Association to step up monitoring of major online shopping platforms and secondhand marketplaces. They also plan to block searches for keywords such as “police uniform” and other related terms to curb the sale of imitation police gear.

Authorities will intensify inspections of 54 major online retailers while conducting on-site patrols and enforcement in popular Halloween gathering spots, including Itaewon and Hongdae in Seoul. Those found violating the regulations could face criminal investigations.

Police also urged the public to avoid selling or wearing police-themed costumes and accessories, even if they do not legally qualify as imitation uniforms, warning that they could be mistaken for actual police attire, particularly at night or in crowded areas.

The NPA said it would continue efforts to raise public awareness of the regulations and encourage compliance to prevent confusion and misuse of police uniforms and equipment.

韩国国家警察厅将于万圣节前夕，从周一至11月1日，在全国范围内开展打击仿冒警服和警用装备的专项行动。此次为期一周的行动将重点打击仿冒警服和装备的生产、销售和分销，同时辅以网络监控和在首尔梨泰院、弘大等热门聚集地的巡逻。该机构表示，仿冒警服可能造成混乱或妨碍警方行动，正如2022年梨泰院人群踩踏事件中所发生的那样。

平民穿着或持有官方或仿制警服或装备，最高可判处六个月监禁或罚款 300 万韩元。

警方将与韩国网络购物协会合作，监控主要网络购物平台和二手交易市场。

当局计划加强对 54 家大型在线零售商的检查，并屏蔽诸如“警服”之类的关键词搜索。

韩国另行禁止平民穿着可能使他们难以与军人区分开来的正式军服或制服。

警方警告说，即使是不符合法律规定的仿制警服的警用服装和配饰，也可能被误认为是真正的警服，尤其是在夜间或拥挤的地区。

发布于2026年10月25日下午4:20（韩国标准时间）

周五万圣节前夕，首尔警方和工作人员在梨泰院站附近安装安全屏障，以疏导人流。（韩联社）

万圣节前夕，警方将在全国范围内严厉打击仿制制服和装备，因为担心这些物品可能被用来冒充警察或扰乱警方行动。

据国家警察厅（NPA）周日表示，为期一周的行动将从周一持续到11月1日，目标是与省级和都市警察机构合作，打击仿制警用装备的生产、销售和分销。

根据现行法律，平民穿着或持有官方或仿制警服或装备，将面临最高六个月的监禁或最高 300 万韩元（2260 美元）的罚款。

此次打击行动源于 2022 年梨泰院人群踩踏事件引发的担忧，据报道，当时一些身穿警服的人被误认为是真正的警察，造成混乱并阻碍了救援行动。

同样，韩国也通过一项单独的法律限制未经授权穿着军装，该法律禁止平民穿着正式军服或制服，以免难以将他们与真正的军人区分开来。

万圣节期间，警方将与韩国网络购物协会合作，加强对主要网络购物平台和二手交易市场的监管。他们还计划屏蔽“警服”等关键词及其他相关词汇的搜索，以遏制仿冒警用装备的销售。

当局将加强对54家大型网络零售商的检查，同时在首尔梨泰院和弘大等热门万圣节聚集地开展现场巡逻和执法行动。违反规定的行为将面临刑事调查。

警方还敦促公众避免出售或穿着警用服装和配饰，即使它们在法律上不符合仿制制服的定义，并警告说，这些服装和配饰可能会被误认为是真正的警服，尤其是在夜间或拥挤的地区。

新警察署表示，将继续努力提高公众对相关规定的认识，并鼓励遵守规定，以防止混淆和滥用警服和装备。