[New Year's Address] President Lee Won-seok: "The Most Important Goal in 2024 is People's Livelihood, Again People's Livelihood"

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok emphasized the response to crimes affecting people's livelihoods as the biggest goal for the prosecution next year.

In his New Year's address on the 31st, Prosecutor General Lee stated, "The most important goal for us in 2024 is livelihood, again livelihood, solely livelihood," emphasizing, "It is to ensure that our citizens can live without worry and with peace of mind at home, school, workplace, and on the streets."

On October 23, Lee Won-seok, Prosecutor General, is reporting on duties at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Prosecutor General Lee said, "While direct investigations into public officials' corruption and bribery crimes by the prosecution are receiving attention, currently over 90% of the prosecution's capacity is fully devoted to responding to crimes affecting people's livelihoods."

He urged, "Crimes targeting socially vulnerable groups, such as violent assaults with weapons that take lives without reason, stalking that destroys a person's daily life, sexual violence and digital sex crimes amounting to character assassination, must be strictly punished so that the prosecution becomes a strong shield protecting our weaker neighbors."

He added, "Also, hate crimes based on gender, age, nationality, skin color, and other reasons that cause hatred and discrimination against people must be remembered as serious crimes that undermine the foundation of our community, and I hope they will be dealt with strictly."

Prosecutor General Lee said, "Most victims of jeonse fraud crimes are young adults starting their social lives and ordinary citizens," emphasizing, "Jeonse fraud crimes that rob all their assets and threaten their living foundations must be dealt with under a zero-tolerance principle."

He stated, "There must be no gaps in responding to voice phishing that plunders hard-earned assets in an instant, illegal private loans that exploit struggling citizens, and investment fraud and virtual asset crimes targeting young adults starting their social lives."

He added, "We must actively respond to industrial accident and wage arrears offenders so that workers who go to work can work safely, return home safely, and receive proper compensation for their hard work."

Prosecutor General Lee also said, "Drug crimes are representative crimes affecting people's livelihoods," and stressed, "We must eradicate drugs from our society, as they destroy not only the users but also the souls of their families and surroundings, and are used as means for violent and economic crimes."

He said, "While thorough investigation and prosecution of crimes affecting people's livelihoods is important, it is equally important to comfort and support victims and their families so they can return to their daily lives," urging, "All prosecution members should have the attitude that victims are our family and neighbors, and strive so that each victim can feel 'the state firmly protects me' and 'the state is on my side.'"

Prosecutor General Lee said, "The role of the prosecution is often focused on eradicating 'great evils' such as public officials' corruption, local government endemic corruption, election crimes, collusion and cartel fair trade crimes, corporate, economic, and financial crimes, and advanced technology leaks, and there is a perspective that views these separately from crimes affecting people's livelihoods," but added, "However, crimes that shake the foundation of our community and deny the constitutional values and order shared by its members are truly representative 'crimes affecting people's livelihoods.'"

He continued, "Although 'great evils' may not have immediately visible victims, corruption, bribery, unfair elections, and economic crimes make all citizens victims and collapse the community."

Prosecutor General Lee also urged strict investigations into the general elections to be held next year.

He said, "Especially this year, a National Assembly election will be held where the sovereign people choose their representatives," and added, "Elections are the foundation of democracy and a core system to realize constitutional values."

He further stated, "I hope you respond strictly to election crimes so that lawmakers who make laws and political parties representing the people's will receive fair and democratic choices from the people, and the people's intentions are not distorted in the process."

He expressed regret and concern, saying, "Recently, there have been continuous attempts to shake criminal justice institutions by mobilizing forces after committing crimes, politicizing the judiciary, and paralyzing the state's criminal justice procedures," and urged, "Let us not forget that the collapse of democracy begins with cracks in the judicial system, and let us make every effort to ensure that the fundamental promise of our judicial system, 'If you commit a crime, you will be punished,' is upheld."

Finally, Prosecutor General Lee once again emphasized maintaining the prosecution's political neutrality.

He said, "Political neutrality is the top priority value that the prosecution must uphold, and any acts that damage or raise suspicion about it are unacceptable. We must perform our duties fairly to avoid even the slightest misunderstanding," adding, "Building public trust is as difficult as the fable of the Foolish Old Man moving mountains, but losing that trust happens as quickly as turning over one's hand. We must never forget this."