Practice Areas

Crime of Impersonating a Police Officer

2025.12.24

The crime of impersonating a police officer is the offense of pretending to be a police officer when one is not. A person who impersonates a police officer and exercises that authority may receive a heavy punishment.

1. Crime of Impersonating a Police Officer | Meaning

The crime of impersonating a police officer is the offense in which a person who is not a police officer pretends to be one.

If a person merely impersonates an officer, the crime of falsely assuming an official title applies, and the punishment is not severe. If the person impersonates a police officer and exercises that authority, however, the crime of falsely assuming the qualification of a public official applies, and the punishment becomes more severe.

Elements of the Offense

For the crime of impersonating a police officer to apply, a person must falsely assume the qualification of a police officer.

Falsely assuming the qualification of a police officer means any act by which a person who is not a police officer leads others to mistakenly believe that the person holds that qualification.

This includes not only a non-police-officer impersonating an officer, but also a general public official who is not a police officer, a temporary employee, or others falsely assuming the qualification of a police officer.

The crime of impersonating a police officer also applies only when the person impersonates a police officer and then exercises that authority.

Authority means the power held by virtue of one's duties, and the crime of impersonating a police officer applies when a person who is not a police officer carries out the affairs, and acts within the scope, that a police officer may perform in the capacity of a police officer.

A closer look at the definition and requirements for impersonating a police officer
View more

Representative Types of the Crime of Impersonating a Police Officer

▶ Wearing a Similar Police Uniform

-Where a person wears a police uniform or a similar uniform and behaves as if a police officer

▶ Use of a Fake Police Identification Card

-Where a person presents a forged or imitated police identification card

▶ Attempting to Exercise Authority, Such as a Stop-and-Question

-Where a person feigns police authority and attempts to verify identity, conduct a crackdown, or take similar action

▶ Fraudulent Conduct

-Where a person impersonates a police officer to defraud another of money or property

2. Crime of Impersonating a Police Officer | Offenses That May Be Concurrent

Daeryun, crime of impersonating a police officer, need for assistance from a criminal attorney

The crime of impersonating a police officer is relatively rarely punished on its own, and in most cases it is punished together with other offenses.

In other words, the act of impersonating a police officer to carry out official functions or exercise police authority does not stop at a simple false assumption of qualification, but may be linked to several serious offenses.

Among these, the ‘violation of the Act on the Regulation of Police Uniforms and Police Equipment,’ ‘the crime of fraud,’ and ‘the crime of forgery of an official document’ are the offenses that most often arise together with police impersonation.

Violation of the Act on the Regulation of Police Uniforms and Police Equipment

A violation of the Act on the Regulation of Police Uniforms and Police Equipment is a case of violating the law that prohibits the unauthorized use or distribution of police uniforms or equipment.

Representative Examples of Violations

▲ Manufacturing, selling, or renting police uniforms or equipment without registration

▲ A member of the general public wearing a police uniform or a similar uniform

▲ Possessing police equipment without authorization, and similar acts

Fraud, Voice Phishing

If a person deceives another by posing as a police officer and obtains money, goods, profit, or a similar benefit, the crime of fraud applies.

Representative Examples of Violations

▲ Where a person impersonates a police officer to demand money from a victim or to receive a remittance

▲ Where a person uses voice phishing methods, posing as a police officer, to deceive a victim and defraud the victim of property

▲ Where a person spreads false information to confuse a victim and obtain a pecuniary benefit

Crime of Forgery of an Official Document

If a person forges or alters a police identification card or an official document and uses it, the conduct constitutes the crime of forgery of an official document.

Representative Examples of Violations

▲ Where a person forges a police identification card and presents it to another

▲ Where a person illegally reproduces or alters a police official document form

▲ Where a person falsely prepares a document in the name of the police to feign an official procedure

What are the requirements for establishing a crime of forgery of official documents and what are the factors for reducing the sentence?
View more

3. Crime of Impersonating a Police Officer | Level of Punishment

As with the crime of impersonating a police officer, a person who falsely assumes the qualification of a public official and exercises that authority is punished under the Criminal Act as follows.

Crime of Impersonating a Police Officer

Article 118 of the Criminal Act

Imprisonment for not more than 3 years or a fine of not more than 7 million won

If a person merely impersonates a police officer and does not exercise that authority, the person may be punished for the 'crime of falsely assuming an official title' under the Minor Offenses Act.

Crime of Falsely Assuming an Official Title

Article 3 (7) of the Minor Offenses Act

A fine of not more than 100,000 won, detention, or a minor fine

Penalty Levels for Crimes That May Be Concurrently Charged

Violation of the Act on the Regulation of Police Uniforms and Equipment

Article 12 of the Police Uniform and Equipment Act

Imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine not exceeding 10 million won

Crime of fraud

Article 347 of the Criminal Act

Imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine not exceeding 50 million won

Forgery of an Official Document

Article 225 of the Criminal Act

Imprisonment for not more than 10 years

Penalty Levels Examined Through Related Precedents

Changwon District Court Judgment of January 17, 2018, Case No. 2017Godan3488

The defendant wore a top resembling a police uniform and attached a fake police badge, then demanded that an unidentified man present his identification and checked his identity, acting as though he were a police officer conducting a stop-and-question.

In doing so, he impersonated the status of a public official and exercised that authority.

He also wore a uniform resembling a police uniform, making it difficult for ordinary people to distinguish him from a police officer.

As a result, the charges of impersonating a public official and violation of the Act on the Regulation of Police Uniforms and Equipment were applied, and he was sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment.

4. Impersonation of a Police Officer | How to Respond

To defend against a charge of impersonating a police officer, a systematic and professional legal response is necessary.

When responding on your own, staying composed and prudent matters more than anything else.

During questioning, it is advisable to restrain your emotions, refrain from unnecessary remarks, and prepare answers based on the facts, while honestly acknowledging the parts you do not know.

You should also organize relevant evidence and materials in advance to prepare for questions, and, if necessary, submit a written opinion or materials after questioning to clearly state your position.

Facing an Investigation?

If you are investigated on a charge of impersonating a police officer, the statements you make during the investigation can greatly affect the penalty level and the trial outcome, so you need to clearly organize the circumstances of the case and your position in advance.

You should understand in detail the situation at the time the incident occurred and your own role, and prepare evidence that can prove the facts, such as whether you wore a police uniform or exercised official authority.

During questioning, you should restrain your emotions and answer calmly based on the facts.

How should I respond to the police investigation process?
View more

Want to Reduce the Penalty?

If you want to reduce the penalty, it can help to prove that there was no intent or that the harm was minor.

You should make clear that the impersonation of a police officer was nothing more than mimicry or a prank, and clearly show that you did not actually exercise police authority.

Proving that there was no harm or that you made efforts to repair the harm, and consistently expressing remorse and a willingness to prevent recurrence, can also have a positive effect.

What should I do if I am falsely accused of a criminal case?
View more

5. Impersonation of a Police Officer | Finding It Difficult to Respond Alone?

Practice area: assistance from Daeryun criminal defense attorneys in police impersonation cases

If you are charged with impersonating a police officer, prompt and professional assistance is important.

Impersonation of a police officer, along with related crimes, can not only result in criminal punishment in itself but can also cause serious economic and psychological harm to victims.

Our firm has many criminal defense attorneys with experience as judges, prosecutors, and police officers, and drawing on their experience handling cases involving the impersonation of a police officer, they precisely analyze the specific facts of each case.

When derivative cases arise, we also cooperate with experts in each field to continuously monitor the situation and respond promptly.

If you are facing difficulties because you are involved in a case of impersonating a police officer, please feel free to request assistance from a criminal defense attorney at Daeryun Law Firm at any time.