Ruling Party and Government "Operate Special Drug Crime Task Force... Strict Response to Smuggling and Illegal Distribution"

Strengthening the Role of the Pan-Government Control Tower
Thoroughly Seizing Crime Proceeds

Sung Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is delivering opening remarks at the 'Comprehensive Measures for Narcotics Control' party-government consultation held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Hyunji Kwon] The ruling party and the government have agreed to operate a special narcotics crime investigation team for the next year to address the worsening problem of drug abuse and to strictly respond to drug smuggling and illegal distribution. They also agreed on the 26th to establish a Narcotics Countermeasures Council led by the Office for Government Policy Coordination to strengthen the role of the government-wide control tower.

Seong Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, said at a meeting with reporters after the 'Comprehensive Measures for Narcotics Control Party-Government Consultation' held at the National Assembly on the same day, "We will strictly respond to drug smuggling and illegal distribution such as methamphetamine."

Chairman Seong emphasized, "We will punish narcotics supply offenders with detention investigations, apply aggravated punishment for organized crime groups, and seek heavy sentences. We will thoroughly track and confiscate all criminal proceeds, including virtual assets. For medical narcotics such as fentanyl, we will make it mandatory to check the patient's narcotics administration history when doctors prescribe to prevent duplicate prescriptions." He added, "We will ban proxy prescriptions of medical narcotics in correctional facilities to block abuse."

The party-government consultation was held two days after President Yoon Seok-yeol emphasized the urgent need for a war on drugs. At a recent weekly meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, President Yoon said, "Drugs have exceeded manageable thresholds, and a war on drugs is urgently needed across society," urging, "Please devise drastic measures with the mission to protect our future generations." Earlier this month, the Cabinet was also briefed on the spread of drugs.

The party and government plan to focus on both prevention of drug crimes and treatment. Chairman Seong said, "We will strengthen psychological treatment for inmates, expand treatment protection institutions and rehabilitation treatment infrastructure to support rehabilitation and return to daily life after release from correctional facilities," adding, "We will enhance narcotics prevention education and promote drug prevention through communication on SNS, which has a significant impact on youth."

Seong Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the 'Comprehensive Measures for Narcotics Control' party-government consultation held at the National Assembly on the 26th, talking with Visit Gyu, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The ruling party also urged the government to strengthen scientific investigation related to drug crimes. Chairman Seong explained, "We actively requested the government to introduce technologies such as AI to strengthen scientific investigations by the narcotics crime investigation team," and added, "We requested related equipment, increased government subsidies, and support measures for treatment protection institutions to respond to new types of drugs, and will reflect additional budgets in the regular National Assembly session." They also plan to consider legislative measures to strengthen prevention of drug abuse and excessive prescriptions, which are currently administrative guidance matters.

The government also expressed its intention to actively cooperate. At the meeting, Moon Bang-kyu, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said, "The Prime Minister's Office will act as the control tower to conduct crackdowns and investigations and establish a cooperation system," adding, "We will form special teams in four major regions, increase investigative personnel to 14,000, and the Korea Customs Service will expand advanced equipment to thoroughly monitor domestic drug imports."

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