The World Federation of Power Leaders (WFPL, President Lee San-Ha) issued a statement on June 26 entitled "Calling for Fundamental National Measures Against Organized Illegal Loan Shark Crimes Destroying the Lives of Young People in Their 20s and 30s."
In its statement, WFPL noted that the recently reported case of a woman in her twenties who became a victim of an organized illegal loan shark syndicate demonstrates that crimes combining illegal lending, digital sexual exploitation, and violent extortion are no longer isolated incidents but serious organized crimes threatening the lives, dignity, and human rights of young people and ordinary citizens.
WFPL further emphasized that fundamental institutional reforms are urgently needed, including stronger national measures against organized crime, improvements to the criminal investigation system, protection of victims, institutional recognition of supplementary prosecutorial investigative authority, and strengthened national responsibility for protecting young people and vulnerable citizens.
The following is the full text of the WFPL statement.
Statement
Calling for Fundamental National Measures Against Organized Illegal Loan Shark Crimes Destroying the Lives of Young People in Their 20s and 30s
- Calling for the Eradication of Organized Illegal Loan Shark and Digital Sexual Exploitation Crimes and Stronger National Responsibility for Public Protection -
The recently reported case involving a woman in her twenties who fell victim to an organized illegal loan shark syndicate has deeply shocked our society.
According to media reports, the victim was lured by a text message offering a low-interest loan, surrendered her identification card and bank account information, and subsequently became trapped by an organized criminal network. She was subjected to excessive usurious debt, illegal debt collection, threats, assault, and forced production of sexually exploitative videos while enduring prolonged intimidation through threats of online distribution.
Even more alarming is that, despite seeking assistance from law enforcement authorities, the investigation reportedly ended without identifying the suspects. Although the facts must ultimately be determined through due investigative and judicial processes, this case exposes serious concerns regarding Korea's criminal response system and victim protection framework.
Such crimes cannot be dismissed as isolated personal misfortunes or ordinary criminal cases. Organized and increasingly sophisticated illegal loan shark operations constitute serious organized crimes and a social disaster that destroy the lives of young people and ordinary citizens while violating human dignity and fundamental rights.
Accordingly, the World Federation of Power Leaders (WFPL) strongly urges the Government, the National Assembly, and all relevant authorities to establish comprehensive and effective national measures to eradicate organized illegal loan shark crimes that are destroying the lives of young people.
Eradicate Organized Illegal Loan Shark Crimes
Today's illegal loan shark organizations have evolved into sophisticated criminal enterprises combining deceptive loan advertisements, identity theft, abuse of bank accounts, illegal debt collection, threats, violence, and digital sexual exploitation.
Targeting financially vulnerable young people and first-time job seekers by forcing them into cycles of excessive debt is not merely a financial offense but a serious organized crime that destroys human dignity. The Government should recognize such offenses as organized crimes threatening citizens' lives and human rights and respond with the strongest possible measures.
Establish a Criminal Justice System the Public Can Trust
The greatest public concern is whether the victim received timely protection and an effective investigation despite repeatedly seeking assistance from law enforcement authorities.
The Government and investigative authorities should thoroughly review every stage of the handling of this case. If shortcomings are identified in victim protection, initial investigations, or responses to organized crime, appropriate corrective measures and institutional reforms should be implemented without delay.
The Government should place the protection of citizens above institutional jurisdictional disputes and establish an investigative system capable of protecting victims while restoring public confidence in law enforcement.
Ensure Supplementary Prosecutorial Investigative Authority to Protect the Public
Modern illegal loan shark crimes increasingly combine financial crimes with digital sexual exploitation. Such organized crimes require simultaneous financial tracing, digital forensics, recovery of criminal proceeds, and coordinated investigations of criminal organizations, making it difficult for a single investigative authority to respond effectively.
The allocation of investigative authority should not be viewed as a political issue but as a matter of protecting the lives and safety of the people. Effective institutional cooperation between the police and prosecutors is essential to combating organized crime. Accordingly, WFPL believes that supplementary prosecutorial investigative authority should be institutionally guaranteed to strengthen the nation's capacity to respond to organized crime.
Strengthen National Responsibility to Protect Young People and Ordinary Citizens
The primary victims of illegal loan shark crimes are economically vulnerable young people and ordinary citizens. Stronger institutional safeguards are needed to prevent citizens from falling into illegal lending schemes by eliminating unlawful lending advertisements, suppressing illegal debt collection, and reinforcing the nation's financial safety net.
In addition, the Government should strengthen legal assistance, psychological counseling, personal protection, and economic recovery support for victims while ensuring the recovery of criminal proceeds and strengthening legal measures against organized illegal loan shark crimes.
The State has a responsibility to protect young people and ordinary citizens from organized criminal exploitation. The destruction of their lives and future by organized illegal loan shark syndicates must never be allowed to continue.
WFPL Strongly Calls Upon the Government, the National Assembly, Investigative Authorities, and All Relevant Institutions to Take the Following Actions:
① The Government and investigative authorities shall thoroughly reinvestigate this case, pursue organized criminal syndicates to the fullest extent, impose strict punishment on all offenders, and completely recover criminal proceeds.
② The Government and the National Assembly shall comprehensively reform the investigative system and relevant laws to effectively combat organized illegal loan shark operations and digital sexual exploitation crimes.
③ The Government and the National Assembly shall strengthen national capacity to combat organized crime and institutionally guarantee supplementary prosecutorial investigative authority to ensure effective cooperation between the police and prosecutors.
④ The Government and relevant authorities shall eliminate illegal lending advertisements and unlawful debt collection while strengthening the financial safety net and victim protection policies to prevent young people and ordinary citizens from falling victim to illegal loan shark crimes.
⑤ The Government, the National Assembly, investigative authorities, and all relevant institutions shall officially recognize organized illegal loan shark crimes as serious organized crimes threatening citizens' lives and human rights and promptly establish comprehensive national measures encompassing prevention, investigation, prosecution, punishment, and victim recovery.
June 26, 2026
WORLD FEDERATION OF POWER LEADERS (WFPL)
