President Lee Calls for Swift Legislation on Lowering Age of Criminal Responsibility

President Lee Jae-myung said today (the 25th) that he hopes a swift conclusion can be reached regarding the issue of lowering the age limit for juvenile delinquents exempt from criminal punishment.

Presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House this morning, President Lee made the remarks, stating, "It seems this issue has been delayed for too long."

He then summarized the flow of discussions up to this point, noting, "The scope is already set. It is about lowering the age standard for criminal responsibility by one to two years for serious, repeat offenses."

He repeatedly urged, "I hope we can check public opinion on this matter once more, organize it early, and push for legislation."

Comments were also made regarding the so-called "controversy over lump-sum retroactive contributions for foreign national pension," in which foreigners pay just one month's insurance premium and can make a lump-sum retroactive payment for up to 119 months of past stay periods to receive a lifelong pension.

President Lee ordered, "When designing a system, it is impossible to make it flawless, leaving loopholes. When these loopholes are discovered, supplemental measures are needed to plug them as quickly as possible," adding, "Please come up with alternatives swiftly."

He further noted, "This is not just an issue for this specific matter. Across all policy areas, how perfectly we correct problems and create alternatives when they arise is the true test of capability," adding, "I hope this can serve as a cautionary tale and a lesson for other policy fields."

Regarding the government's decision to strengthen punishments for crimes involving the leakage of high-tech technologies overseas, he said, "While it is a necessary measure, more important than catching the thief well after losing the cow is managing the barn properly so that the cow is not lost in the first place," and instructed, "Related agencies such as the National Intelligence Service and the police must establish an airtight cooperative system."

(Photo: Blue House Press Corps, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.