CCTV (Image courtesy of Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — In a striking trend reflecting growing legal awareness among South Koreans, requests for access to legal documents, particularly criminal complaints, have skyrocketed, surpassing 200,000 annually. This surge underscores a shift towards proactive self-advocacy and strategic preparation in legal disputes.
According to the “2024 Information Disclosure Annual Report” released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on September 1, requests for criminal complaints and related documents reached 201,000 last year. This marks a more than fivefold increase from 37,000 in 2019.
Legal experts suggest that this dramatic uptick is primarily driven by individuals seeking to clearly understand the allegations against them and the complainants’ arguments. This information is crucial for developing effective defense strategies in consultation with legal representatives.
“Our analysis of recent statistics shows a significant increase in information disclosure requests related to lawsuit preparation and personal insurance claims — matters closely tied to citizens’ daily lives,” a ministry official stated.
The trend extends beyond criminal complaints. Requests for CCTV footage have more than tripled, from 12,000 in 2019 to 39,000 last year. Similarly, requests for ambulance records and related documents have seen a substantial increase, rising from 27,000 in 2019 to 72,000 last year.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
