On October 26, 2024, at 10:00 PM, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat hosted a courtesy visit from the Korea National Police Agency (KNPA). The KNPA delegation was led by Senior Inspector Park Da On from the Organized Crime International Cooperation Section and included Inspector Song Gyung Young from the Narcotic Crime Investigation Section, as well as Assistant Inspectors Kim Su Hyun and Kim Jeong Hun from the Yeongdeungpo Police Station under the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
The visit was attended by officers from the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, including Police Service Officer I, Deputy Superintendent of Police Abdul Hamid Abdul Hashim, and Police Service Officer II, Assistant Superintendent of Police Nithia Perumal, along with other Secretariat staff members. Notably, the KNPA has been a Dialogue Partner of ASEANAPOL since its approval at the 28th ASEANAPOL Conference held in Brunei in 2008.
The session commenced with the presentation of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat's corporate video, which provided an overview of the organization's roles and functions. A representative from the Secretariat elaborated on ASEANAPOL’s role as a regional law enforcement organization that facilitates cooperation among the police forces of ASEAN Member States. The presentation also highlighted its efforts to combat ten identified areas of transnational crime, including a strong focus on addressing drug trafficking and related criminal activities.
During the meeting, the KNPA representatives outlined their primary objective for the visit: to coordinate the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Korea National Police Agency and ASEANAPOL. This MOU aims to establish collaboration in key areas such as information sharing, exchange of best practices, capacity building, joint investigations, and other measures to combat drug trafficking. The initial draft of the MOU, prepared by the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, was enhanced with KNPA’s inputs and will be shared with ASEANAPOL Member Countries for consensus and approval.
The meeting concluded with fruitful discussions on enhancing bilateral relations and fostering deeper cooperation. Both parties emphasized their shared commitment to combating drug abuse and other transnational crimes. The ASEANAPOL Secretariat reaffirmed its dedication to supporting KNPA’s objectives and contributing to the success of their initiatives, expressing hope for continued collaboration in the future.
"Together We Keep This Region Safe"