The South Korean Foreign Ministry has assessed trends in responding to transnational crime and strategies for enhancing cooperation.
On May 21, the ministry held a meeting of ambassadors from Southeast Asia and China, chaired by Deputy Minister Kim Jin-ah, to discuss these issues.
The virtual meeting included participation from the Special Task Force on Transnational Crime, the National Police Agency, and 18 embassies in Southeast Asia, along with three embassies in China.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister Kim stated, "In accordance with President Lee Jae-myung's directive to thoroughly pursue and eradicate transnational crime that disrupts the lives of our citizens, we have strengthened cooperation with relevant domestic agencies and authorities in each country."
She noted that there have been positive outcomes, including a reduction in domestic voice phishing incidents and a case in Cambodia where a South Korean citizen was victimized by a scam and held captive.
However, she expressed concern that criminal organizations are evolving into smaller, decentralized groups and expanding their activities into South Asia and Central Asia.
Kim urged each embassy to closely monitor local developments and enhance collaboration with host country authorities and nearby embassies.
In response, ambassadors from the Southeast Asia region committed to working closely with host countries to eliminate South Korean involvement in transnational crime. Additionally, embassies in China stated they would strengthen cooperation with Chinese authorities, considering the potential links between criminal organizations in China and Southeast Asia.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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