Police's First Task After Launching 'National Investigation Headquarters': "All-Out Effort to Eradicate Fraud and Other Livelihood Crimes"

'Launch of the Task Force to Eradicate Crimes Threatening the Common Economy'
Comprehensive Response to Voice Phishing and Internet Fraud
Strengthening Prevention of Burglary, Theft, and Domestic Violence Threatening Ordinary Citizens

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] With the launch of the "National Investigation Headquarters" (Guksubon), which oversees police investigations, the police are taking on the eradication of "crimes affecting the livelihood of ordinary citizens" as their first policy of the new year. They are determined to focus on eliminating fraud, burglary and theft, and domestic violence crimes that disrupt the daily lives of ordinary people struggling due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 14th, the National Police Agency announced, "As the first task to realize 'citizen-centered responsible investigation,' we have selected the eradication of crimes infringing on the livelihood of ordinary citizens, such as fraud, and will implement strong countermeasures."

The representative crimes infringing on ordinary citizens identified by the police include various fraud crimes such as voice phishing and cyber fraud, burglary and theft, and "domestic violence" occurring in public places. According to the police, fraud crimes increased by 14% compared to the previous year, reaching 345,005 cases last year, showing an increasing trend over the past three years. In particular, the damage from voice phishing reached as high as 629 billion KRW. Although burglary and theft are on a decreasing trend, the police explained that there are concerns about an increase in livelihood-related crimes due to the impact of COVID-19, and the proportion of domestic violence is on the rise.

The police plan to respond comprehensively to fraud crimes centered on Guksubon. They will form a "Task Force for Eradicating Crimes Infringing on the Livelihood of Ordinary Citizens," led by specialized departments for major fraud crimes, to comprehensively respond to all stages including prevention, crackdowns, victim relief, and system improvement. They will conduct special crackdowns on telecommunication financial fraud, cyber fraud, and domestic fraud (illegal private loans, insurance fraud, employment fraud, jeonse fraud), and strengthen tracking of wanted fraud suspects.

Additionally, they will carry out effective preventive activities by proactively blocking suspicious phone numbers, utilize a dedicated department for tracking criminal proceeds throughout investigations to trace and preserve major fraud crime proceeds, and work to restore the actual financial damages of victims. Last year, the police preserved 81.3 billion KRW in criminal proceeds, of which 38.9 billion KRW was from specific fraud crime victims.

They will also respond to burglary, theft, and domestic violence that threaten the livelihood of ordinary citizens. Centered on the newly established Criminal Affairs Bureau within Guksubon, they will operate a "Task Force for Eradicating Crimes Infringing on the Livelihood of Ordinary Citizens," concentrate investigative efforts, and operate "intensive arrest periods" during times of frequent crimes. Based on "pinpoint analysis" of risk factors by region, they will strengthen preventive police activities and promptly respond to major crimes to enhance the public's sense of safety.

Proactive protection and support activities for socially vulnerable groups will also be promoted. With recent amendments to related laws such as the Child Abuse Punishment Act and Domestic Violence Punishment Act strengthening the police's initial on-site response capabilities, proactive and active police activities will be carried out from the early stages. In particular, in cases of child abuse, the expansion of police access for on-site investigations and emergency measures is expected to enable more active on-site responses such as separation measures.

Measures related to the "Jeong-in case," including the establishment of a dedicated child abuse department within the National Police Agency, joint dispatches with child protection agencies, and comprehensive joint investigations led by department heads, will proceed as planned. To ensure that such policies for socially vulnerable groups are implemented in line with the introduction of autonomous police, a "Crime Prevention and Socially Vulnerable Protection Policy Council" involving the Director of the National Police Agency's Public Safety Bureau and city/provincial autonomous police committees will be formed.

The firm stance on strict response to crimes against socially vulnerable groups will be maintained. In response to increased anxiety over sex offenders such as Jo Doo-soon’s release, the police will operate intensive inspection periods for high-risk groups including those subject to notification and disclosure, and will take strict measures against false registration of personal information such as changes of residence.

Furthermore, sex buyers targeting children and adolescents will be severely punished by applying sexual violence crimes such as statutory rape, which carry heavier penalties than the act of purchasing sex itself, and a comprehensive crackdown will be conducted on inducement and solicitation activities using random chat apps, which serve as channels for child and adolescent prostitution.

The police emphasized, "We will push forward with measures determined to eradicate crimes infringing on the livelihood of ordinary citizens such as fraud," and added, "Through protection of victims and socially vulnerable groups, we will carry out citizen-centered responsible investigation activities unwaveringly even within the changed police investigation system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.