Do cultural values influence how we perceive the police? Examining the cultural impact of Confucian values on the perception of police legitimacy

PurposeThis study aimed to expand the normative model of police legitimacy literature by assessing the impact of cultural values and their role as a driver of the perception of legitimacy. Specifically, the current study assessed cultural values like Confucianism and their impact on the perception of police legitimacy.Design/methodology/approachThe current study used convenience sampling of South Korean university students from all seven metropolises. A perception survey regarding their perception of the legitimacy of Korean police was asked via a six-point scale. For statistical analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the hypotheses.FindingsThe authors' results indicate that Confucian values like social hierarchy and social harmony impacted various stages of police legitimacy. In particular, Confucian values significantly impacted procedural justice, the obligation to obey and cooperation. However, it failed to predict legitimacy in any capacity.Originality/valueFirst, by assessing Confucian values and their impact on police legitimacy, the current study aimed to expand the police legitimacy literature. Second, police legitimacy research in non-Western settings is still lacking and has not reached a consensus regarding the primary driver of legitimacy. Furthermore, South Korea in particular is still at an infant stage regarding police legitimacy research. The current study aimed to add to the literature by examining police legitimacy in the Korean context.