There is provided an image processing apparatus, method, and operation program capable of appropriately removing an abnormal pixel even in a case where the abnormal pixel is present in a tailing region. An abnormal pixel removing section removes an abnormal pixel from an image in which tailing and the dot-shaped abnormal pixel are mixed every other line. The abnormal pixel removing section selects neighboring pixels from only odd lines or even lines including a line, in which a target pixel to be corrected is present, depending on whether or not the line in which the target pixel is present is an odd-numbered line in a sub-scanning direction, and performs processing for removing the abnormal pixel based on the selected neighboring pixels.