President Lee Shares 'Drug Response Achievements': "Seek Treatment Instead of Ending Up in Prison"

Deployment of Enforcement Officers and Installation of Detection Equipment at Domestic Postal Centers
23,403 Drug Offenders Arrested in First Year of New Administration; 3.2 Tons Seized at Borders

On June 2, President Lee Jae-myung issued a stern warning regarding measures to block drug distribution via postal services, stating, "If you purchase drugs through the mail, you will inevitably be caught and prosecuted."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting and emergency economic inspection meeting held at the Blue House on June 2, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

In a post uploaded to X (formerly Twitter) on the same day, President Lee said, "To all drug offenders, in order to crack down on drugs, which are a social evil, we have deployed drug enforcement officers at all domestic postal distribution centers."

He added, "We have also installed detection equipment such as drug-sniffing dogs and artificial noses. Do not waste your money and end up in prison; I urge you to seek treatment early instead."

This message comes after the government announced its achievements in combating drug-related crimes one year after taking office. According to the Office for Government Policy Coordination and relevant ministries, 23,403 drug offenders were apprehended in 2025 through special inter-ministerial crackdowns over the past year.

Notably, from June last year to April this year—a ten-month period since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration—5,386 online drug offenders were arrested, and 3,233 kilograms of drugs were seized at the border. The government stated that both the number of online drug offenders apprehended and the quantity of drugs seized at the border are the highest on record for the same period.

According to the Korea Customs Service, during the same period, a total of 1,181 cases and 3,233 kilograms of drugs were seized at the border. The number of cases and the amount seized increased by 22% and 307%, respectively, compared to the same period of the previous year. The National Police Agency operated a dedicated online drug investigation team and apprehended 5,386 online drug offenders, a 33% increase year-on-year.

The government is also focusing on blocking drug smuggling via international mail. After initial screening at airports and ports, international postal items arriving at inland postal distribution centers undergo a second round of X-ray scanning and physical inspection. The government has redesigned the logistics network so that all international mail passes through five key postal distribution centers, and from July, plans to operate additional X-ray screening lines.

The Government Joint Investigation Headquarters for Drug Crimes is also playing a central role in responding to major drug crimes. In just six months since its launch, the task force has booked a total of 235 individuals, including members of eight organized crime groups, and has detained 109 key figures. The task force also uncovered a case involving the smuggling of approximately 636 kilograms of cannabis from Thailand by ship, resulting in the arrest and prosecution of those involved.

The government is strengthening not only enforcement but also treatment and rehabilitation systems. The budget for supporting treatment costs for drug addicts has been expanded, and the number of regional treatment and protection centers nationwide has been increased to 11. In addition, dedicated rehabilitation facilities for drug offenders within correctional institutions have been expanded. The Korea Association Against Drug Abuse's 24-hour counseling service has also been made more accessible through non-face-to-face methods such as KakaoTalk open chat.

Yoon Chang-ryul, policy chief at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, stated, "The success in drug enforcement is not the achievement of a single ministry, but the result of inter-ministerial cooperation. As there are many tasks ahead, such as strengthening crackdowns by smuggling routes, improving systems to prevent illegal distribution, advancing detection equipment, and enhancing treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention, we will remain vigilant and continue to implement a robust, government-wide response."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.