On September 10, 2024, a high-level bilateral meeting took place in Seoul between ASEANAPOL Secretariat Executive Director David Martinez Vinluan and Senior Superintendent General Yoo Jae Seong, Director General for Detective Affairs of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA). The discussions focused on strengthening transnational cooperation to address shared security challenges between South Korea and the ASEAN region, particularly in combating organized crime.
Senior Superintendent General Yoo expressed KNPA’s concerns about the growing threats from transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, and human trafficking, which have significantly impacted Korean citizens living in ASEAN countries. He also highlighted South Korea's increasing role as a transit and destination point for narcotics, which poses a serious threat to national security and public safety. Yoo emphasized the need for a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ASEANAPOL and KNPA to enhance collaboration and ensure a coordinated approach to these mounting security threats.
Superintendent General Yoo also addressed the issue of Korean fugitives hiding in ASEAN countries, seeking ASEANAPOL’s support in locating and apprehending these individuals. He underscored the importance of intelligence sharing and close collaboration in law enforcement operations to successfully arrest and prosecute these criminals.
In response, Executive Director Vinluan outlined ASEANAPOL’s ongoing initiatives to foster greater cooperation among ASEAN member police forces, particularly through intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity-building efforts. He reaffirmed ASEANAPOL’s commitment to working closely with external partners like South Korea and expressed strong support for the proposed MOU, emphasizing its importance in formalizing and expanding cooperation on shared security concerns.
Executive Director Vinluan further explained that both ASEANAPOL and KNPA have been in continuous communication to finalize the draft MOU. Once the agreement is refined, it will be submitted to the Chiefs of ASEAN National Police for consensus approval. Both leaders agreed that the MOU, once ratified, would significantly strengthen law enforcement collaboration and provide a key framework for addressing the evolving nature of transnational crime in the region.
“Together We Keep This Region Safe"