The prosecution is considering a plan to reduce or waive sentences for insiders of criminal organizations involved in drug distribution and use if they voluntarily confess to their crimes or inform on accomplices.
On the 6th, the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office, Korean National Police Agency, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Office for Government Policy Coordination finalized the 2025 drug management implementation plan. The government established the first comprehensive drug management basic plan at the government level last January and prepared specific implementation measures this time.
The Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office plans to promote revisions to the special law on preventing illegal drug transactions by reducing or waiving sentences for individuals who confess to drug-related crimes or report on the crimes of others.
An official from the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office said, "To effectively respond to organized and international drug crimes, we will consider introducing a judicial cooperation penalty reduction system used by major advanced countries into drug crime investigations." The judicial cooperation penalty reduction system was first introduced last year for unfair trading practices in the capital markets.
Additionally, the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office will also prepare a legal basis for covert transactions involving drug use. There are plans to amend the drug management law this year to allow prosecutors and police to create documents to disguise identities or use false identities to engage in contracts, transactions, and to possess, sell, or advertise drugs, subject to court approval.
Furthermore, the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office will amend the law to allow for the immediate suspension of withdrawals from bank accounts used in drug transactions. It is also pursuing a plan to establish new provisions in the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes Act for harsher penalties if other crimes such as sexual violence, violence, or traffic accidents are committed while under the influence of drugs.
Meanwhile, the number of drug offenders decreased by 16% to 23,022 last year. However, the amount of illegal drugs seized increased by 17.6% to 1,173.2 kg compared to the previous year.