On Thursday, August 29th, the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ) proudly held the inauguration ceremony for its 17th president, Dr. Woong Seok Jeong.

In his inaugural speech, President Jeong shared his ambitious vision to enhance the KICJ’s role as the nation’s leading think tank in criminology and justice. "In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, these emerging technologies like AI are not only vital to our national competitiveness but also pose new challenges,” Jeong remarked. “For the advancement of the criminal justice sector, I intend to lead in-depth research on the utilization of these innovative technologies, as well as the rise of new types of crimes enabled by these technologies."

President Jeong also emphasized the KICJ’s commitment in refining the criminal justice system as a national research institute. 

"We will concentrate our research capabilities on supporting and developing national policies, closely examining current issues, and thoroughly assessing the challenges and feasibility of policy implementation to ensure that theories and practices are well-aligned," he stated.

He further noted the importance of fair and efficient operations within both research and management areas. "We will strive to establish a balanced work environment where work and life coexist harmoniously," he added.

President Woong Seok Jeong has previously served on the Prosecutorial Reform Committee at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, as a policy advisor for the Ministry of Justice's Investigation System Reform Council, and as the president of the Korean Association of Criminal Procedure Law. His presidential term began from August 22, 2024 and will last until August 21, 2027.