The riot police system, under which paramilitary police were recruited by the Defense Ministry, will officially fade into history 45 years after it was introduced.

The system, which has long been considered a symbol of the nation’s dictatorial rule, will be officially scrapped Monday, when a legal revision comes into effect, the National Police Agency said.

The riot police have gradually been replaced by police conscripts, who choose to serve their mandatory national service in the police rather than in the military, and whose role is not officially linked to North Korea.

The riot police system was established in 1971 under the military-backed Park Chung-hee administration, officially to combat demonstrations led by North Korean spies. The riot police were randomly selected among military conscripts by the Defense Ministry.

Amid the widespread anti-dictatorship sentiment, the riot police played a central role in cracking down on rallies in the name of maintaining public order. Their job also included managing traffic and guarding important facilities.

The continued use of riot police, which runs as a paramilitary organization, to confront protestors with shields, clubs and tear gas has sparked criticism from activists.

Amid the criticism and shrinking population, the National Police Agency set up a new scheme to recruit police conscripts upon application in 1983 to gradually replace the riot police system.

The Defense Ministry stopped recruiting riot police in January 2012 and the last batch of riot police were discharged in September 2013.

According to the police, the total number of riot police who completed their service stands at nearly 33,000.

In South Korea, all the able-bodied men are required to serve the around two-year mandatory military service as the country technically remains at war with North Korea since the 1950-53 Korean War.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)