Pointed Out Through Written Administrative Inquiry
Urged Daegu City and Office of Education to Take Action
On July 15, Jubeom Kim, a member of the Daegu City Council (People Power Party, Dalseo District 6), urged the mayor of Daegu and the superintendent of education to establish countermeasures against drug-related issues through a written administrative inquiry.
According to the 2023 White Paper on Drug-Related Crimes published by the National Police Agency, the number of drug offenders increased from 16,044 in 2019 to 27,611 in 2023. It is particularly noteworthy that the number of drug-related cases, which stood at 18,395 in 2022, surged by nearly 1.5 times in just one year. Daegu is no exception. The number of drug offenders in Daegu nearly doubled from 575 in 2019 to 1,118 in 2023, indicating that drug issues are no longer limited to specific groups but are expanding into broader concerns for public safety and society as a whole.
In particular, online drug distribution that is easily accessible to teenagers, as well as crimes occurring around schools, are emerging among those in their teens and twenties. Nationwide, individuals in their teens to thirties account for about 60% of all drug-related arrests, demonstrating that drug problems are rapidly spreading among the younger generation. This underscores the increasing importance of preventive education and early intervention targeting adolescents and young adults.
In response, Councilor Kim questioned whether the Daegu City Government and the Office of Education have an accurate understanding of the reality of drug-related crimes among adolescents and young adults. He requested specific answers from the Office of Education regarding the current status of preventive education on harmful substances for students, participation in preventive training for parents, and the implementation of prevention and publicity campaigns on harmful substances.
Additionally, he stated, "Drug crimes are no longer confined to hidden spaces but now occur frequently in open areas as well." He further emphasized, "Recently, at festival sites in Daegu, there are concerns that drugs such as GHB, which are difficult to detect due to their lack of taste and odor, could be misused for secondary crimes. In light of this situation, it is urgent to implement field-based campaigns and distribute simple test kits as preventive measures."
Councilor Jubeom Kim stressed, "Drug issues are not merely criminal problems; they are complex social challenges that require a multidimensional response integrating crime prevention, health and welfare, youth protection, and support for social reintegration." He strongly urged the city to develop systematic and effective measures at the Daegu city level, including tailored responses by age group and location, as well as recovery support after incidents, to address the rapidly evolving nature of drug-related crimes.
He concluded his inquiry by calling on the city administration to mobilize all available resources so that Daegu can reestablish itself as a drug-free city.
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