President Lee Jaemyung made an unannounced visit to the Special Task Force on Transnational Crime in Seoul on January 26, urging officials to expand efforts against overseas based networks targeting Korean citizens, as reported by Chosun Daily. The visit took place at the task force office in the Changseong-dong annex of the Government Complex Seoul.
During a briefing, President Lee issued a direct warning to criminal organizations operating in Southeast Asia and other regions. He said South Korea must clearly communicate that any group preying on Koreans “will face ruin.” His message was aimed at organizations involved in voice phishing, online gambling and other increasingly sophisticated cross border scams.
Officials briefed the President that reports of voice phishing, no show fraud and similar scams have decreased since the task force was created. President Lee welcomed the progress but ordered stricter measures. Citing recent arrests in Cambodia and the largest repatriation of suspects to South Korea to date, he stressed the need to eliminate interagency barriers in order to respond more effectively.
The President also held a video call with members of the Korea Task Force stationed in Cambodia. He recognized the difficult conditions under which they work and told them the public valued their efforts. When he joked about buying chicken for the team, one officer asked for pizza instead, prompting President Lee to instruct full personnel and budgetary support for the unit.
The Special Task Force on Transnational Crime coordinates ten agencies, including the National Intelligence Service, National Police Agency, Prosecutors Office, Financial Services Commission, National Tax Service, Customs Service and Korea Internet and Security Agency. A spokesperson said the President’s visit reflected a commitment to mobilizing national capabilities to tackle transnational criminal threats.
Officials reported declines in voice phishing and no show scams since the task force was launched
