President Lee Jae-myung stated on October 15 that the government must establish urgent measures to combat violent crimes, including relational and indiscriminate offenses, with a commitment akin to declaring war.
During a senior aides meeting at the Blue House, President Lee noted, "Recent incidents of relational crimes resulting in loss of life and brutal attacks have caused significant public anxiety."
He emphasized that crimes threatening the lives of innocent citizens pose a serious issue not only for the victims but also for the safety of society as a whole. He pointed out that these crimes often target vulnerable individuals, particularly women, necessitating more careful and specific measures.
The President urged relevant ministries to respond to serious crimes, such as relational offenses and indiscriminate attacks on the public, with a heightened sense of urgency.
He specifically directed the establishment of a government-wide response system, stating, "We need to create a joint government response organization to thoroughly examine any gaps in existing measures."
President Lee also stressed the importance of ensuring that victim protection measures are functioning effectively and that high-risk offenders, such as those wearing electronic monitoring devices, are being properly managed in the field.
He instructed officials to develop tailored preventive measures based on risk levels and effective victim protection strategies. Additionally, he called for a significant enhancement of personnel, organizations, and equipment to improve on-site response capabilities in emergency situations.
"There must be no small gaps in protecting the lives and safety of our citizens," President Lee said, urging for thorough crime prevention, swift on-site responses, and a comprehensive victim protection and support system.
He emphasized, "We must concentrate all available means at the government level to address this issue."
Meanwhile, ahead of the 47th anniversary of the Busan Democratic Uprising on October 16, President Lee praised the courage of the citizens of Busan and Masan, stating it was a key driving force in hastening the collapse of authoritarian military rule.
He remarked, "The Busan Democratic Uprising, which upheld the principle of popular sovereignty, is a proud part of our history alongside the May 18 Democratic Movement, which supports the democratic republic of Korea. The government of popular sovereignty could only be born on this foundation of democracy."
President Lee noted that the significance of the Busan Democratic Uprising and the May 18 Democratic Movement is even greater in the current context of overcoming insurrection, emphasizing that the spirit of these movements must take deeper root in our society.
He reiterated the importance of including the spirits of the Busan Democratic Uprising and the May 18 Democratic Movement in the preamble of the constitution, stating, "There is a consensus across the political spectrum on the need to inscribe the May 18 Democratic Movement and the Busan Democratic Uprising in the constitution. It is now time to turn words into action."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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