Tom Cruise's 'Minority Report' has arrived in real life - South Korean police turn to AI to predict crimes and drug tracking

Plans by the South Korean police include the creation of a metaverse police agency. - PHOTO: THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

SEOUL: In the 2002 movie 'Minority Report', Tom Cruise leads an unit called Precrime, a specialised police department, apprehends criminals by use of AI and foreknowledge provided by three psychics called "precogs".

While it may not be excatly the same, AI may play a big part in preventing crime and that may be soon be seen in South Korea.

The South Korean police has unveiled a four-year blueprint for using artificial intelligence to predict and combat crimes.

They believe the technology can help fill security gaps in the rural areas caused by the high concentration of police personnel in Seoul and the metropolitan area.

The police will also seek to use artificial intelligence to improve their investigative abilities and the technology to combat voice phishing.

The plan includes a program to develop an algorithm that analyses unusual online behaviour patterns to predict stalking and sex crimes.

Also, research is under way to develop technology that uses security cameras to detect abnormal behaviour and whether someone is carrying a weapon.

To better tackle drug trafficking, a real-time map to keep track of drug cases to help trace distribution routes will be built.

Other plans include establishing a police agency metaverse, developing a system to automatically track banned virtual assets, and creating a cyber training institution at the Advanced Public Security Centre.

In addition, officers will be provided with bulletproof clothing and strength-enhancing robotic augmentations to their uniforms.

South Korea has seen an increase in economic and financial crimes, with the number rising from 290,000 in 2015 to 410,000 in 2020.

The number of drug offenders is also up, with the number of people investigated for drug crimes jumping from 12,000 in 2018 to 18,000 in 2020.

In the first half of 2023, a total of 925 cases of murder, bodily harm or assault took place. And 18 of them were classified as serious crimes with abnormal motives, commonly referred to as mudjima or “don’t ask why” attacks – unprovoked and sudden acts of violence targeting strangers.

The plan, which requires approval by the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology, will be finalised by the end of 2023 after consultations with the relevant ministries. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK