[News Inside ⑤] "An Integrated System Is Urgently Needed to Reduce Drug Offenders" [Interview]

Interview with Lee Seungho, Attorney at Bae, Kim & Lee
Expert with Over Six Years of Experience as Head of the Drug Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office
"It Is Time to Shift the Focus from Punishment to Recovery"

"If drug offenders are left as criminals, we cannot break the cycle of recidivism."

In recent years, the number of drug offenders has remained above 20,000 annually. In 2023, there were 27,611 cases, and in 2024, the figure was 23,022. As the proportion of teenagers and people in their twenties increases, drugs are no longer just a problem for certain groups but have become a "societal challenge" for the entire nation. Lee Seungho, a lawyer at Bae, Kim & Lee LLC and former head of the Drug Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, asserts, "The overall numbers will never decrease unless we reduce the recidivism rate." He emphasizes the need for an "integrated system" focused on treatment and rehabilitation, rather than just enforcement. The following is a Q&A with Lee.

Lee Seungho, a lawyer at Bae, Kim & Lee LLC, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Jongno office in Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

- According to recent drug crime statistics, the number of offenders has slightly decreased. Even so, would you still consider the situation dangerous?

▲In 2023, for the first time, the number of drug offenders exceeded 20,000, reaching 27,611. Last year, the number dropped slightly to 23,022, but it remains at a dangerous level. The amount of drugs seized has actually increased, and drug crimes are characterized by a high number of hidden, unreported cases. Therefore, while it may appear that the numbers have temporarily decreased due to intensified crackdowns, it is difficult to conclude that drug crimes themselves are decreasing.

- There is growing criticism that enforcement-focused responses have limitations.

▲The recidivism rate continues to rise. If we impose criminal punishment and label even those who started out of curiosity or by mistake as criminals, they become desperate and reintegration into society becomes much more difficult. While strict punishment may have a deterrent effect in other areas of criminal policy, I do not believe this applies to drug crimes. Treatment and rehabilitation are much more effective for reducing recidivism.

- Do you believe there needs to be a change in how criminal penalties are imposed on drug addicts?

▲Of course, suppliers and smuggling organizations should be punished severely. However, among consumers and users, many have encountered drugs by mistake. If we punish these individuals in the same way, society ultimately loses them. The "criminal" label makes recovery even more difficult. It effectively deprives them of any opportunity to re-enter society.

- The government is reportedly piloting a model that links judicial, treatment, and rehabilitation services. What are your thoughts?

▲For simple users or those who are willing to quit, measures such as conditional non-prosecution with mandatory treatment are being implemented, connecting hospital treatment with social reintegration. This is a very meaningful attempt. The important thing is to ensure that this system functions in practice. It is not enough for the program to simply exist.

- What is the most urgent issue at the scene of drug crime investigations?

▲There is a severe shortage of hospitals, and the regional disparity is significant. Most hospitals are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, so those in other regions have to give up their daily lives to come to Seoul for treatment. There is also a shortage of addiction specialists. Moreover, treatment should not end with discharge; it must continue through social reintegration, but this aspect is virtually nonexistent. We need a dedicated organization, like Thailand's Narcotics Control Board, that can oversee treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention.

Lee Seungho, a lawyer at Bae, Kim & Lee LLC, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Jongno office in Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

- Do you think a truly integrated organization is needed?

▲Currently, there is a joint investigation system involving the police, prosecutors, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, customs, and Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), but information sharing between agencies is poor. Drug crimes are extremely secretive. This makes effective crackdowns difficult. We need a one-stop organization, like the DEA or Thailand's Narcotics Control Board, that can oversee everything from investigation to rehabilitation.

- What is your perspective on investigative authority related to drug crimes?

▲At present, prosecutors can only investigate supply and distribution, while most user cases are handled by the police. However, drug cases are usually investigated by tracking simple users upward to suppliers. In this structure, it is difficult to maintain continuity in investigations. There is also a need to readjust prosecutorial authority to focus on major cases.

- Is there anything you would like to emphasize in closing?

▲Drug crimes can never be solved by enforcement alone. Once exposed to drugs, it is extremely difficult to break free. If we continue to allow even those who started by mistake to be branded as criminals, we will remain stuck in the same place. Now is the time for policy to shift its focus from "punishment" to "recovery."