President Lee Jae-myung stressed on October 30 that "local corruption is a crime that undermines the foundation of autonomy and decentralization," emphasizing that all-out efforts must be made to eradicate it.

President Lee made the remarks on X (formerly Twitter) on the same day while sharing a news article highlighting cases where police cracked down on local corruption, such as illicit solicitations involving contract renewals.

President Lee pointed out, "If chronic corruption and collusive ties in local communities are left unchecked, it could undermine not only regional competitiveness but also public safety through substandard construction."

He continued, "Collusion and corruption deeply rooted in local communities are difficult to rectify from within because even whistleblowing is not easy. This is why we must roll up our sleeves and take proactive action before the problem festers and bursts."

In particular, he noted, "The National Investigation Office of the National Police Agency uncovered about 700 cases during its first special crackdown on local corruption conducted over the past eight months," adding, "Starting in November, it plans to carry out a second special crackdown by expanding the scope of investigation across the entire local public service sector."

He added, "I would like to thank the officials of the National Police Agency who are working hard to eradicate local corruption."

President Lee promised, "We will correct outdated practices where foul play and privileges prevail, and ensure that fairness and principles are firmly established in the local public sector."

(Photo: Yonhap News)