President Lee Jae-myung stated on September 14, "I will ensure that the response to crimes against women and youth remains steadfast during the process of separating investigative and prosecutorial powers, and that relevant ministries are thorough in their efforts."
On this day, marking the fourth anniversary of the Sindang Station stalking murder case, President Lee expressed his condolences to the victims' families and offered comfort to those living in fear.
He emphasized, "When violence recurs and danger signals appear, the state must take the lead. We cannot defer responsibility simply because the system is lacking."
This statement comes ahead of the implementation of the Public Prosecution Service Act and the Serious Crimes Investigation Act on October 2, amid concerns about potential gaps in crime response and victim protection. The president's remarks highlight the need to ensure that there are no lapses in addressing crimes against women and youth during the transition to the new prosecutorial bodies.
President Lee pointed out that despite amendments to the Stalking Punishment Act and improvements to protective measures, victims still find themselves needing to hide from their abusers. He stated, "It is not the victims who should be hiding; it is the perpetrators who must be stopped. We need to restrict the actions of dangerous offenders, not limit the daily lives of victims."
He also committed to advancing the 'Measures to Strengthen Responses to Stalking and Dating Violence' announced in July without delay, ensuring that necessary institutional improvements are expedited to prevent similar tragedies from occurring again.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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