President Park Geun-hye said Monday police should be at the forefront of efforts to firm up law and order and promote a “law-abiding culture” in South Korean society, calling for stringent law enforcement against illegality.

Park made the remark during a Police Day ceremony, stressing that ensuring safety and order was the main priority and responsibility of the police.

“I ask you to do your best to help a more mature civic consciousness and a law-abiding culture take firm root by dealing sternly with illegalities and disorder that shake social discipline and impair safety,” Park said during the ceremony.

Park called for greater efforts to crack down on increasingly sophisticated crimes such as “voice phishing” and “smishing.”

She also promised to improve the working conditions of police and carry out a promised increase in the number of policemen, including a 4,000-member increase this year. (Yonhap News)