Prosecutor General Calls for Swift Response to Mass Victimization Crimes Affecting Ordinary Citizens... Nationwide Prosecutors' Meeting

On April 18, Prosecutor General Sim Woojeong addressed attendees at the "Meeting of Chief Prosecutors on Countermeasures Against Mass Victimization Crimes Affecting Ordinary Citizens in the Seoul Metropolitan Area," held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. He emphasized, "Swift case processing is necessary to help victims restore their daily lives," and urged, "Respond quickly and strictly to mass victimization crimes affecting ordinary citizens, and make every effort to support the victims."

Prosecutor General Sim instructed that, from the early stages of investigations into illegal fundraising and pyramid scheme crimes, a dedicated prosecutor-based responsibility system should be established, and that organic cooperation should be used to minimize supplementary investigations and expedite case processing. He also directed that criminal proceeds be thoroughly recovered and returned to victims, and that, in cases involving sexual exploitation or stalking, these factors should be actively used as sentencing considerations in related trials. He further encouraged attendees to propose institutional improvements to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office if necessary for victim recovery.

The meeting was attended by 13 chief prosecutors from departments dedicated to mass victimization crimes affecting ordinary citizens in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, who discussed investigative strategies for illegal private lending (loan sharking), illegal fundraising, and pyramid scheme crimes. In the subsequent meeting of dedicated prosecutors, 32 prosecutors from local offices shared investigative know-how on emerging crimes such as virtual asset investment fraud.