Kuala lumpur: President Lee Jae Myung announced on Monday that South Korea is committed to enhancing its cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address the issue of transnational crimes and safeguard young people from organized criminal networks in Southeast Asia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee emphasized the urgency of this cooperation during South Korea's summit with the regional bloc in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, against a backdrop of increasing concerns over online scams targeting South Koreans. These concerns have been heightened following the tragic torture and death of a Korean college student who was lured to a scam center in Cambodia.
Lee highlighted that organized criminal networks, such as scam centers, are proliferating in border areas with weak law enforcement, leading to many young people falling victim to these transnational crimes. He asserted that the Korean National Police Agency would work in tandem with ASEANAPOL (ASEAN Police Chiefs) to dismantle these criminal operations and prevent them from establishing a foothold in the region. Additionally, he stressed the importance of expanding criminal justice cooperation both bilaterally and within ASEAN.
Attending the annual summit for the first time since taking office in June, Lee presented South Korea's plan to enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with ASEAN, established last year. He also proposed hosting a special Korea-ASEAN summit in 2029 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Lee's "CSP vision" is geared towards positioning South Korea as a "contributor" to aspirations and hope, a "springboard" for growth and innovation, and a "partner" for peace and stability. As part of this initiative, South Korea aims to increase mutual visits to 15 million people annually and boost bilateral trade to US$300 billion. Furthermore, South Korea seeks to take a more proactive role in fighting transnational crimes, enhancing maritime security, and supporting disaster relief efforts to promote regional peace and stability.