President Lee Jae-myung directed on October 15 that urgent measures be established with the resolve to declare war on violent crimes, including relational crimes committed by family members, partners, and colleagues, as well as indiscriminate crimes targeting the general public.
During a meeting with senior aides at the Blue House, President Lee stated, "Recent incidents of relational crimes resulting in loss of life and brutal attacks with weapons have caused significant public anxiety."
He emphasized, "Crimes that threaten the lives of innocent citizens are a serious issue that jeopardizes the safety of society as a whole, particularly as victims are often vulnerable individuals such as women. Therefore, more careful and special measures are necessary."
President Lee also urged the establishment of a government-wide joint response organization to meticulously review existing measures for any potential gaps.
Specifically, he called for a detailed inspection of the operational status of victim protection equipment and the management of high-risk offenders, such as those wearing electronic monitoring devices. Based on this, he ordered the development of tailored prevention strategies and effective victim protection plans according to risk levels.
He made it clear that enhancing on-site response capabilities in emergency situations is also essential.
"Actively pursue a substantial reinforcement of personnel, organization, and equipment," President Lee said, adding, "The government must concentrate all available means to establish a thorough crime prevention, rapid on-site response, and comprehensive victim protection and support system."
This directive from the president comes in the wake of several violent incidents that have exposed the limitations of current on-site response and victim protection systems.
Recently, a 50-year-old man attacked a group of people with a weapon at a large commercial facility in Incheon, injuring ten individuals. One female victim was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest, and the suspect was arrested by police on charges of attempted murder.
Earlier, on October 11, a man in his twenties, under investigation for assaulting his wife during an annulment lawsuit, killed his mother-in-law and kidnapped his wife in Songpa, Seoul. On October 13, a 70-year-old man murdered his wife while under a restraining order for stalking and domestic violence in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.
All three incidents have drawn criticism for the failure of authorities to effectively monitor and protect individuals despite prior warning signs.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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