President Lee Jae-myung said on the 21st that South Korea must make a fundamental shift "from after-the-fact response to advance prevention" in dealing with both relationship-driven crimes such as stalking and random, indiscriminate attacks against members of the public.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 81st Police Day, Lee said responding only after a crime has occurred is not enough to protect citizens. He called for extraordinary measures to detect warning signs of crime early and prevent harm.
He also said police must not miss the critical window in missing-person cases and must respond quickly at disaster sites in close cooperation with relevant agencies. "I hope you keep in mind that attention to even small signs and a response that stays one step ahead can prevent greater harm," he said.
Lee stressed that police should take the lead in correcting rule-breaking and privilege and in building a fair society. "We must respond firmly to crimes that strip citizens of their property and of fair opportunity, and must not be swayed by any outside pressure or vested interest," he said. He added that crimes that rob hardworking citizens of their opportunities and erode trust in the community — including jeonse (a lump-sum deposit lease) fraud, investment fraud and the improper receipt of state subsidies — must be investigated rigorously.
He also said illicit proceeds should be traced and clawed back to the end, and that gaps in the system exposed during investigations should be fixed so the same crimes are not repeated.