On January 26, 2026, President Lee Jae-myung made a surprise visit to the Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force (TF) office at the Changseong-dong annex of the Seoul Government Complex. During his visit, he encouraged staff and instructed them to actively respond to scams originating overseas. He particularly emphasized the need to collaborate with local Southeast Asian media to widely publicize the risks of targeting Koreans. This move demonstrates the government’s firm stance against the growing threat of transnational crimes.
President Lee was briefed that reports of various scams, including voice phishing and no-show fraud, have sharply declined since the TF’s establishment. He pointed out that scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and continue to destroy citizens’ lives, urging even stricter measures in the future. The President also discussed the recent large-scale arrests in Cambodia and the subsequent repatriation process, stressing the importance of seamless inter-agency cooperation. The TF involves ten agencies, including the NIS, Financial Services Commission, Prosecutors’ Office, National Tax Service, Customs Service, National Police Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Overseas Korean Agency, and KISA.
Through a video conference with the Korea Task Force members stationed in Cambodia, President Lee expressed deep gratitude for their dedication despite being away from their families and working under challenging conditions. He encouraged them to take pride in their work and suggested that their enforcement achievements be widely publicized, including through local media. The meeting also featured light-hearted exchanges, with President Lee promising to support the team with necessary budgets and personnel. Such direct communication is expected to boost morale among frontline staff.
The Transnational Crime Special Response TF serves as a government-wide control tower to combat various crimes such as drugs, scams, online gambling, and digital sex crimes. Moving forward, the government plans to strengthen international cooperation and inter-agency collaboration to enhance its response to transnational crimes. President Lee’s actions underscore the importance of public safety and Korea’s growing leadership in the global fight against crime. The effectiveness of these policies and expanded international partnerships are highly anticipated.
President Lee’s hands-on approach and emphasis on robust inter-agency and international cooperation mark a strategic shift in Korea’s fight against transnational crime. By fostering seamless collaboration and publicizing enforcement successes, the government sets a precedent for proactive and transparent crime prevention. These efforts are likely to enhance national security and position Korea as a key player in global crime response networks.