20,000 Police Officers to Be Deployed Nationwide on CSAT Day... Preparations in Place for Bomb Threats

On November 13, when the 2026 CSAT will be held, approximately 20,000 police officers will be deployed nationwide. The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) is also implementing preventive measures in response to a series of bomb threats targeting schools.
A KNPA official stated at a regular press briefing on the 10th, "In coordination with the United States Department of Education (ED) and other agencies, we plan to deploy 9,910 officers to the Test Development Headquarters and Scoring Headquarters as a precaution."
On the day of the CSAT, a total of about 20,000 officers will be mobilized, including 10,475 traffic police officers assigned to test sites across the country to prevent congestion.
The KNPA has held several consultations with relevant agencies and established preventive measures to counter bomb threats. However, the police did not disclose specific details, citing concerns that media coverage could lead to copycat crimes among youth.
During the Halloween period, the number of 112 emergency calls increased compared to last year. Reports received by the Itaewon Police Box and Hongik Police Box rose from 633 last year to 936 this year, marking a 33% increase. This analysis is based on the last Friday and Saturday of October. Despite the increase in reports, proactive measures ensured there were no major incidents. The police concentrated personnel in areas where large crowds were expected and carried out safety activities.
Regarding complaints about police officers dispatched to Gyeongju for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting (APEC Summit) experiencing inconveniences with accommodations and meals, the KNPA acknowledged some issues. An official explained, "Up to 18,600 officers were mobilized per day. Although 20,000 rooms were secured, the high demand from other agencies and organizations meant that even with all available hotels and corporate training centers, some officers were assigned to outdated accommodations." There were also instances of delayed or missing lunchboxes and group meals.
unsaid@fnnews.com Kang Myung-yeon Reporter