MOU to Establish "Korean Desk" with Cambodian Police on October 23
Plans for International Cooperation Council with Interpol, ASEAN Countries, and Japan
As a series of crimes such as employment scams targeting Koreans, as well as kidnapping, confinement, and torture, have continued to occur in Cambodia, the police are launching an all-out response by strengthening local investigative capabilities.
The National Police Agency announced on the 12th that it will hold a bilateral meeting with the Cambodian police at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd, where they will discuss signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the establishment of a "Korean Desk" and the dispatch of police officers.
Currently, among the 15 staff members at the Korean Embassy in Cambodia, only three are police personnel: one resident officer and two liaison officers. As a result, there have been concerns that the current manpower is insufficient to respond to the increasing number of crimes targeting Koreans. This has led to a growing need for a "Korean Desk," with Korean police officers dispatched overseas to exclusively handle crimes against Koreans.
The first Korean Desk was established in the Philippines in 2012, where the highest number of Korean homicide victims have been recorded, and three officers are currently active there. In addition, two Korean police officers have been dispatched to the Thai police.
A police official explained, "There are expectations that the Korean Desk, by working together with the local police, will make cooperation more efficient," adding, "The most important factor is how much attention the host country pays to incidents involving Koreans."
In addition, considering that criminal organizations in Cambodia are composed of multinational offenders, international cooperation will also be strengthened. In fact, all three suspects accused of murdering Korean university student A in the Bokor Mountain area of Kampot Province, Cambodia, in August were Chinese nationals.
In particular, within this year, the police plan to establish an "international cooperation consultative body" involving Interpol, the 10 member countries of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), China, Japan, and others. The aim is to conduct joint operations against transnational crimes such as kidnapping, confinement, and online fraud between Korea and ASEAN countries.
The police also plan to work with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to increase the number of police consuls in areas where crimes against Koreans are frequent, and to reinforce international cooperation investigation personnel by 30 people.
Discussions will also be held to ensure the swift repatriation of A's body following a joint autopsy in Cambodia.
Yu Jaeseong, Acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, emphasized, "We will mobilize all of our international cooperation capabilities to protect the lives and safety of our citizens and alleviate their concerns regarding crimes targeting Koreans in Cambodia."
Acting Commissioner Yu will preside over a meeting at 3 p.m. on the 13th to discuss measures to respond to crimes against Koreans in Cambodia and to strengthen international cooperation. Prior to this, at 2 p.m., an emergency video conference will be held with the Director of International Cooperation at the National Police Agency and 15 police consuls stationed in China and Southeast Asia.
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