Kuala lumpur: President Lee Jae Myung stated on Monday that the Republic of Korea will enhance its cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address transnational crimes and safeguard young people from organized criminal networks in Southeast Asia. Lee’s remarks were made during the Republic of Korea’s summit with the regional bloc in Kuala Lumpur, as concerns grow over online scam operations targeting Koreans, following a tragic incident involving a Korean student in Cambodia.
According to Lao News Agency, Lee emphasized that organized criminal activities, particularly scam centers, are proliferating in border areas with weak legal enforcement, resulting in many young victims of transnational crime. He announced that the Korean National Police Agency will collaborate closely with ASEANAPOL (ASEAN Police Chiefs) to dismantle these criminal networks, preventing transnational crimes from gaining a foothold in the region, while also expanding criminal justice cooperation both bilaterally and within ASEAN.
During his first attendance at the annual gathering since taking office in June, Lee outlined Seoul’s initiative to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established with ASEAN last year. He also proposed hosting a special Korea-ASEAN summit in 2029 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The CSP vision, which aligns with ASEAN’s highest-level partnership framework, aims to establish South Korea as a contributor to dreams and hope, a springboard for growth and innovation, and a partner for peace and stability. Lee stated that under this initiative, the Republic of Korea seeks to increase reciprocal visits to 15 million people annually and boost annual bilateral trade to US$300 billion. Additionally, it plans to take a more active role in combating transnational crimes, enhancing maritime security, and supporting disaster relief efforts to ensure regional peace and stability.