More than 7,000 police officers were out in force nationwide Thursday to provide security for 2,161 corporate stockholders' meetings held during the day.

The National Police Agency confirmed the attendance of 43 known "sokaiya" corporate racketeers at the meetings of 31 firms, compared with 86 at 46 companies a year ago. The figure was the lowest since payoffs to such racketeers were banned under the revised Commercial Code in 1982.

According to the NPA, 1,930 companies sought police protection against possible disruption of their stockholders' meetings by racketeers.