For some time now, in the center of Seoul, South Korea, a life-size hologram police officer has been installed in an effort to deter crime. According to the BBC, the hologram is projected every two minutes from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM in Jeo-dong Park, an area that is crowded at night due to nearby bars, warning that the area is monitored by security cameras and that real police officers will arrive shortly.
“Although upon closer examination it was clear that it was not a real person, the simple perception of police presence had a significant deterrent effect,” the police stated in their announcement.
South Korea: What the hologram shows
The hologram is approximately 1.7 meters tall and has been designed based on a real person. It looks somewhat strange, especially when illuminated in the dark, and warns that the area is under surveillance.
This is an advanced technology initiative and its presence has been characterized as useful, while many compare it to a luminous scarecrow.
According to police, crime rates in the area have decreased by approximately 22% since the hologram’s installation, prompting them to consider extending this particular initiative to other areas as well.
🇰🇷👮South Korea Projects Crime Cuts via Hologram Police
Seoul is lighting up the night – literally – with lifesize hologram police officers to keep troublemakers at bay, with no coffee break in sight.
“In case of an emergency, the police will be dispatched in real time. CCTV… pic.twitter.com/funNyU3alJ
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) October 5, 2025
