Rural Decline Creates 'National Void' in South Korea

The biggest challenge facing South Korea is its 'population crisis,' exemplified by the phenomenon of 'rural decline.' This issue is not merely about a decreasing population; it also means that when emergencies like heart attacks or strokes occur, patients must travel farther to reach appropriate medical facilities. Legal disputes require individuals to seek lawyers in distant areas. Furthermore, the area that one police officer is responsible for in rural regions is hundreds of times larger than in Seoul. This situation illustrates a 'national void' where essential services such as healthcare, legal assistance, and law enforcement are physically distant from citizens.

The 'distance between the state and its citizens' is evident in the numbers. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, there are 98 emergency medical vulnerability areas nationwide, and 52 regions lack any registered lawyers. The so-called 'rural and void areas,' where both conditions overlap, number 48, with 46 of these classified as 'population decline areas' by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. More than half of the 89 total population decline areas fall into this category. As hospitals and law offices disappear due to population loss, the inability to access healthcare and legal rights perpetuates a vicious cycle, driving more people away.

Examining the situation further, the 46 rural, void, and population decline areas occupy 29% of the land but account for only 3% of the population. In contrast, Seoul, which comprises just 0.6% of the land, is home to 18% of the national population, resulting in a population density approximately 270 times higher than that of rural areas.

In areas facing population crises, the 'distance of security' is also increasing. The number of 'security centers,' which previously showcased police presence in communities, is declining. According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to lawmaker Park Joo-min of the Democratic Party, the number of closed security centers surged from 17 in 2020 to 225 in 2023. Additional closures continued in 2024 and 2025, bringing the total to 346 since 2020. During the same period, 10 police stations were also shut down.

Security centers were established as a response to local security needs, particularly in rural and mountainous areas where police stations are far away. In 2023, many of the centers targeted for closure were located in rural and island regions, sparking controversy over 'security voids.' In the population decline area of Imsil County, six out of seven security centers were slated for closure, while four out of five in Gochang County faced the same fate. In response to public backlash, police decided to prioritize reductions in urban areas while reconsidering closures in rural regions. Consequently, of the 225 centers closed, nearly half were in Seoul, with 109 closures, followed by 51 in Busan and 29 in Daegu. The three cities accounted for 84% of the total closures.

However, starting in 2025, rural security centers began to close in succession. In the previous year, 72 centers were shut down, with the highest number in Gyeongbuk Province at 29, followed by Jeonnam with 9, and Gangwon and southern Gyeonggi with 7 each. Seoul had only one closure.

Notably, closures continued in rural, void, and population decline areas. In Gyeongbuk, three centers in Bonghwa, two in Cheongdo, and two in Goryeong were closed. In Gangwon, one each in Jeongseon and Pyeongchang, three in Hoengseong, two in Boeun, and two in Seocheon, as well as two in Boseong and Yeonggwang and one in Gurye in Jeonnam were also shut down. A total of 21 security centers disappeared in just 11 counties in 2025.

The issue is compounded by internal police personnel reallocations alongside the reduction of security centers. The police are strengthening their investigative capabilities due to the complete separation of investigation and prosecution. This approach raises concerns about a decrease in personnel for preventive and patrol duties without a significant increase in staff.

According to the National Police Agency's 'Police Personnel Operation Efficiency Plan,' the total personnel for 138 police mobile units will decrease from 11,179 to 10,139, a reduction of 1,040 (9.3%). The Southern Gyeonggi Police Agency is considering reducing the personnel of four metropolitan patrol units from 152 to 130, a decrease of 22 (14.5%). Earlier, by the end of 2025, a reorganization plan was initiated to reduce personnel in mobile and patrol units by 2,246 and reallocate them to investigation and crime response departments.

The Ajou Economic Investigative Reporting Team has examined the security situation in population decline areas, particularly in rural and void regions.

The disparity in security becomes even clearer when comparing rural areas to Seoul. According to statistics from the National Police Agency, the average area each police officer is responsible for in 87 of the 89 population decline areas is 4.53 square kilometers. In contrast, the average area per officer in Seoul's 31 police stations is only 0.029 square kilometers. This means that police in population decline areas are responsible for approximately 156 times more space than their counterparts in Seoul, equivalent to the size of 634 soccer fields. The situation is even more severe in rural, void, and population decline areas, where the average area per officer is 5.06 square kilometers, widening the gap to about 175 times.

Regionally, the largest area is covered by the Pyeongchang Police Station at 10.93 square kilometers, equivalent to about 1,531 soccer fields. Following closely are Bonghwa Police Station in Gyeongbuk at 10.74 square kilometers, Hongcheon Police Station in Gangwon at 9.58 square kilometers, and Yeongyang Police Station in Gyeongbuk at 9.49 square kilometers. In contrast, the average area for police stations in Seoul, such as Jungbu, Namdaemun, and Hyehwa, is just 0.01 square kilometers, a difference of 1,000 times compared to Pyeongchang. Even the largest police stations in Seoul, such as Seongbuk, Gangbuk, Gangseo, Dobong, and Suseo, only cover 0.04 square kilometers, while Seocho and Nowon cover 0.05 square kilometers.

When comparing police stations with similar resident populations, the disparity becomes even more pronounced. For instance, one officer in Yanggu covers 204 residents, while one officer in Jungbu covers 208 residents. Although the difference in population is only four, the area covered is 7.04 square kilometers for Yanggu and 0.01 square kilometers for Jungbu, resulting in a 700-fold difference. A similar pattern is observed between Yeongyang Police Station and Gangnam Police Station, where the respective populations are 185 and 195, but the areas are 9.49 square kilometers and 0.02 square kilometers, showing a difference of approximately 474 times.

The difference in coverage area directly impacts the response times for emergency calls. Since 2019, the police have been monitoring the response times for 112 calls at the police station level. 'Code 1 (C1)' indicates an imminent or ongoing threat to life or bodily harm, while 'Code 0 (C0)' refers to the most urgent calls requiring immediate police response.

Analysis of the average response times for 112 calls by code reveals that as of August 2026, the average response time for C0 calls in Seoul is 221.0 seconds (3 minutes and 41 seconds), while in population decline areas, it is 416.1 seconds (6 minutes and 56 seconds). This means that residents in these areas wait 195 seconds (3 minutes and 15 seconds) longer, or 1.88 times as long as those in Seoul. In rural, void, and population decline areas, the average response time for C0 calls is 428.4 seconds (7 minutes and 8 seconds), nearly 1.94 times longer than in Seoul. In critical situations where every second counts, residents in these areas face nearly double the wait time compared to those in Seoul.

A similar gap is evident for C1 calls. The average response time for C1 situations in Seoul is 241.1 seconds (4 minutes and 1 second), while in population decline areas, it is 429.5 seconds (7 minutes and 9 seconds), approximately 1.78 times longer than in Seoul. In rural, void, and population decline areas, the average response time for C1 calls is 463.9 seconds (7 minutes and 44 seconds), nearly 1.92 times longer than in Seoul.

For all 112 calls (C0 to C3), the average response time in Seoul is 254.3 seconds (4 minutes and 14 seconds), while in population decline areas, it is 360.9 seconds (6 minutes and 1 second, about 1.42 times longer), and in rural, void, and population decline areas, it is 385.7 seconds (6 minutes and 26 seconds, about 1.52 times longer).

Comparing the maximum and minimum response times reveals a staggering difference of over 10 minutes. The fastest response for C0 calls in Seoul is from the Dongdaemun Police Station, averaging 186 seconds (3 minutes and 6 seconds). In contrast, the slowest response in a population decline area is from the Yeongdong Police Station in Chungbuk, taking 906 seconds (15 minutes and 6 seconds). The difference between these two police stations is precisely 12 minutes (approximately 4.87 times). In rural, void, and population decline areas, the Jinans Police Station in Jeollabuk-do takes 797 seconds (13 minutes and 17 seconds), which is 10 minutes and 11 seconds (approximately 4.28 times) longer than Dongdaemun.

When considering all 112 calls, the fastest response in Seoul is from Hyehwa Police Station, averaging 213 seconds (3 minutes and 33 seconds). In contrast, the slowest response in rural, void, and population decline areas is from Bonghwa Police Station in Gyeongbuk, taking 581 seconds (9 minutes and 41 seconds), resulting in a difference of 6 minutes and 8 seconds (approximately 2.73 times).

In regions where police are distant from residents, another pressing issue is 'aging.' According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's population statistics as of the end of August 2026, the proportion of the population aged 65 and older nationwide is 22.1%. South Korea is set to enter a super-aged society by the end of 2024, with the proportion of residents aged 65 and older surpassing 20%. In Seoul, this figure is 21.1%, lower than the national average. However, in population decline areas, the rate rises to 39.2%, and in rural, void, and population decline areas, it reaches 41%, nearly double that of Seoul.

Regionally, the disparities are even more pronounced. In Gyeongbuk's Uiseong County, the elderly population exceeds 50.3%, meaning more than one in two residents is elderly. Even the lowest rate in Daegu's Nam-gu is 28.5%. In rural, void, and population decline areas like Gunwi County in Daegu (50.4%), Cheongdo County in Gyeongbuk (47.8%), Bonghwa County (46.9%), and Sancheong County in Gyeongnam (46.4%) also approach or exceed 50%.

The connection between aging and police work is particularly evident in the area of 'missing elderly persons with dementia.' Reports of missing elderly individuals have surged in recent years. According to the National Police Agency, reports of missing elderly persons with dementia increased from 10,308 in 2017 to 16,586 last year, a rise of 60.9% (6,278 cases) over nine years. This year, 10,776 cases have already been reported by July. Crimes targeting the elderly also highlight the security needs in aging regions. Reports of voice phishing targeting individuals aged 60 and older rose from 1,720 cases in 2016 to 7,294 cases in 2025, more than quadrupling over the decade. Additionally, theft incidents involving individuals aged 65 and older exceeded 18,000 cases last year.

If police presence is sparse in rural areas, technological safety nets like CCTV could help fill the gaps. However, the disparity between Seoul and rural areas is stark.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's data on the management and operation of CCTV by local governments, as of the end of 2025, Seoul has 110,537 crime prevention-related CCTV cameras. In contrast, the seven provinces with the highest concentration of population decline areas—Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam—have a total of 215,936 cameras. While the absolute number is higher in these provinces, the story changes when considering the area. Seoul covers approximately 605 square kilometers, while the seven provinces span about 81,900 square kilometers, making them 135 times larger than Seoul. This results in a density of about 183 cameras per square kilometer in Seoul, compared to only about 2.6 cameras per square kilometer in the seven provinces, meaning Seoul's density is approximately 69 times higher.

The importance of intelligent CCTV (equipped with AI video analysis technology) has grown significantly. Following the Itaewon tragedy in 2022, the government has been pushing for the modernization of public CCTV. The proportion of intelligent CCTV is 46.4% in Seoul and about 45.7% in the seven provinces, showing no significant difference overall. However, there are considerable regional disparities, with Chungbuk at 24.9% and Gangwon at 27.3%.

The most significant issue is that local governments must bear most of the costs for CCTV installation. This means that the speed at which technological solutions can address security gaps varies depending on the financial conditions of local governments.

A key indicator of local government financial conditions is 'financial independence,' which shows how much of their budget local governments can cover through local taxes and other revenues. A lower figure indicates a weaker revenue base.

Analysis of the '2026 initial budget financial independence' data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety shows that Seoul's financial independence rate is 75.5%, the highest among local governments nationwide. This allows Seoul to invest heavily in CCTV installation. From 2024 to 2026, Seoul plans to invest 126.5 billion won to convert all crime prevention CCTV to intelligent systems, with 27.1 billion won allocated for this year alone.

In contrast, local conditions are dire. Incheon, with a financial independence rate of 44.1%, aims for 73.5% intelligent CCTV by 2030, requiring about 21.2 billion won, which is less than what Seoul spends in a single year.

In areas facing population crises, financial independence rates drop even further. The average for population decline areas is 10.2%, while for rural, void, and population decline areas, it is 9.6%, even lower. Consequently, regions like Danyang in Chungbuk, Goryeong in Gyeongbuk, and Pyeongchang in Gangwon are planning CCTV installation and replacement projects this year with budgets around 200 million won, a stark contrast to Seoul.

In regions with insufficient police presence, community safety patrols assist in monitoring vulnerable areas and reporting crime risks. However, these patrols also face structural limitations due to population decline and aging. According to the National Police Agency's data on community safety patrols, the number of patrol members nationwide decreased from 106,261 in 2016 to 96,197 in 2025, a drop of 10,064 (9.5%). A more significant issue is the age structure; in 2025, 38% of patrol members were in their 50s, and 36% were aged 60 and older. Combined, these two age groups account for 74% (71,187 members), indicating that three out of four patrol members are middle-aged or older. In contrast, only 3% are in their 20s and 4% in their 30s.

The reality that rural decline is not just about population loss but signifies 'the state distancing itself from its citizens' is poignantly illustrated in Gunwi County, Gyeongbuk.

Gunwi County is both a population decline area and a rural, void area, compounded by extreme aging. Nearly half of the residents are elderly. As the population ages, the area that police must cover expands. In fact, Gunwi County (614.29 square kilometers) is nearly the same size as Seoul (605.25 square kilometers). However, a single officer in Gunwi is responsible for 6.14 square kilometers, approximately 212 times the average area of 0.029 square kilometers per officer in Seoul. The disparity is also evident in response times for 112 calls; the average C0 response time in Gunwi is 687 seconds (11 minutes and 27 seconds), compared to 221 seconds in Seoul, a difference of 7 minutes and 46 seconds, more than three times longer.

There is an urgent need for additional safety nets like CCTV. However, Gunwi County has only 729 CCTV cameras, with just 547 dedicated to crime prevention and child protection. This translates to about 0.89 cameras per square kilometer, while Seoul has approximately 183 cameras, a difference of 206 times. Expanding CCTV coverage requires funding, but Gunwi's financial independence rate is only 8.0%. This stark reality underscores the notion of a 'national void.'

Park Joo-min, a member of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee, stated, "Addressing security voids cannot be resolved merely by setting numerical standards based on population or area. Rather, the extent of attention given to areas that are distant and sparsely populated can significantly widen or narrow the gap. Investigation and security are not a zero-sum game; rather than uniformly reallocating personnel, we must accurately predict the actual security needs of each region and ensure that personnel and resources reach the necessary places at the right times."

He added, "As we move toward a era of decentralization and balanced growth, the need for this approach will only increase. Ensuring that all citizens enjoy equitable safety, regardless of where they live, is a fundamental right and a prerequisite for the era of decentralization."

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