By Lee Kyung-min
Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong said Tuesday that he would lead a strong anti-corruption drive in the latter half of this year.
According to the ministry, Kim ordered the prosecution to strengthen its crackdown on corruption, especially cases involving high-profile figures in politics and business.
In a related move, the ministry recently dispatched more investigators to anti-corruption probe teams at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
It is expected the prosecution will launch massive investigations into the alleged corruption of politicians and business leaders.
“Without rooting out such corruption, it is impossible for the country to take another leap in economic development and secure sustainable growth,” Kim said in his written order. “The prosecution has made efforts for an anti-corruption drives since March, and attained some results. But systematic corruption is not dying easily.”
The minister told the prosecution to focus on corruption by policymakers as well as large-sized firms’ irregularities that exploit small-sized ones.
Kim also urged it to cooperate with related government agencies to come up with special countermeasures against corruption.
Kim’s move is in line with the Park Geun-hye administration’s earlier declaration of a war against corruption.