From Korean policing to international law enforcement

For more than 14 years, Jaehyung Ahn worked as a South Korean police officer and saw how crime and criminal organizations are increasingly crossing boundaries. Law enforcement agencies that once tackled strictly local incidents are finding themselves working globally. That’s what brought Ahn to Philadelphia, where he is spending a year at Penn Carey Law earning a master’s of law degree in the LLM program with a view to fighting crime internationally.

“Crimes that threaten public safety and social order are no longer confined by national borders due to advancements in information and transportation technology,” Ahn says. For example, Korea has had a surge in drug use and addiction in recent years, and he notes cybercrime and cyberattacks have also become more severe and frequent.

Ahn says the most memorable course at Penn Carey Law he’s taken has been was a seminar on criminal justice reform with Sandra Mayson and Dana Bazelon, which covered topics such as gun violence, drug use, police accountability, domestic violence, and sexual assault. The class’s focus on addressing real-world problems was helped by expert guest speakers. “During a drug colloquium, we heard from a Kensington resident, a police officer, a medical researcher, and city officials, who shared their insights and experiences,” Ahn says.

With a focus on alleviating drug issues in Korea, Ahn has also spent time working in the Kensington neighborhood, volunteering to help people struggling with addiction. Since last September, he has been assisting with distributing food, clothing, and other essential supplies.

“As Korea is still in the early stages of a growing drug problem, my colleagues and I struggled to combat drug crimes,” he says. “I make an effort to visit Kensington regularly, and I believed volunteering would be the most effective way to connect.”

One element that interested him was the commitment of other Penn volunteers helping Kensington. “I find it truly rewarding to be part of Penn and to engage with a local community facing serious issues, contributing through both research and volunteer work,” Ahn says. “What impressed me the most was realizing that I was not alone in my concerns and efforts to address these problems.”

Ahn already holds a master’s degree in business administration from Seoul National University and a bachelor’s degree from the Korean National Police University, and has worked for the Korean National Police Agency and the Presidential Office.

After graduation, he will return to South Korea as a police officer as part of the terms set by the Korean government which paid for him to complete the degree. His professional life in Korea has until now focused on investigation and intelligence work, but he hopes the LLM degree will provide a foundation to pivot into internationally focused roles, such as liaison with Interpol.

“A more innovative approach to cross-border law enforcement and information sharing is urgently needed,” Ahn says. “Achieving this goal is not something that can be accomplished by one country alone.”