Minister Jung Sung-ho of the Ministry of Justice said, "The past six months were a time to lay the foundation for prosecution reform," adding, "We must do our utmost while renewing ourselves with hard, painstaking effort to show the public a clear change."
The Minister said this in a New Year's message released on the 31st, saying, "Let's accelerate prosecution reform for the people and make this year one in which the prosecution is reborn as an institution the public can trust and rely on."
The Minister said, "The mission and reason for being of the prosecution is to protect the public from crime," adding, "If the prosecution faithfully carries out its original role so that criminals receive punishment commensurate with their crimes and no members of the public suffer unjust harm, it will be able to regain the public's trust."
He continued, "We must not be satisfied with the results so far, but show the public an even clearer change," adding, "President Theodore Roosevelt said, 'Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.' If we do our best in our positions and actively carry out even small tasks, those efforts will add up to achieve great change."
The Minister also emphasized improving correctional environments. The Minister said, "Let's expand parole for exemplary inmates and improve the treatment of correctional officers to create an environment in which the human rights of inmates and correctional officers are respected together."
For the public's safe daily life, the Minister said, "Let's effectively prevent crime and build a tighter social safety net by strictly supervising high-risk groups for recidivism and strengthening education for juvenile offenders."
On immigration and foreigner policy, the Minister said, "As low birthrates, aging, and the extinction of regions accelerate, demands for securing foreign labor and social integration are growing," adding, "While pursuing policies that can respond flexibly to demographic and social changes, we must not neglect border management and the establishment of an orderly stay system."