SEOUL, April 5 (UPI) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Friday there should be harsher punishments for crimes by rich and influential people, like stock price manipulation.
Park said punishment should be sterner to ensure "crime does not pay," Yonhap News Agency reported.
"There have been many cases so far where those who commit crimes avoided punishment or got away with light punishment just because they are rich or influential. This has increased the people's frustration and distrust in our judicial system and worked against national unity," Park said during a home ministry policy briefing.
"There is this saying in English that 'crime does not pay,'" Park spokeswoman Kim Haing quoted the president as saying. "We can prevent a number of potential crimes if we firmly establish the notion that crimes lead to loss and are certainly punished."
Park said money gained from financial crimes should be fully traced and forfeited, Yonhap reported.
In the briefing, the president said officials should work harder to improve safety so the socially weak can feel as though police "have their backs."
