**Yu Acting Commissioner: “Initiating Korean Desk and Personnel Increase”**
The police are considering enhancing their investigation into similar incidents in relation to the death of a Korean national in Cambodia. Plans are in place to visit the site with the National Forensic Service this month to conduct an autopsy. Efforts to strengthen the safety network for Koreans in Cambodia include setting up a “Korean Desk” and expanding the deployment of police attaches.
Yu Jae-sung, acting commissioner of the National Police Agency, held a press conference on the 13th, stating, “Our police and the National Forensic Service will visit the site this month to conduct an autopsy and decide whether further investigation in Korea is necessary. The release of the body to the family will be determined after the autopsy.” He added, “At the International Chiefs of Police Conference next week, we plan to hold bilateral talks with the deputy commissioner of the Cambodian police and discuss strong cooperative measures, including the establishment of a Korean Desk in Cambodia.”
A Korean Desk is a dedicated contact point for Korean crime victims within a local police organization overseas. In the case of the one in the Philippines, it operates at the local police headquarters rather than the Korean Embassy. Generally, due to sovereignty issues, this is a sensitive topic for the host country.
Following this incident, the police plan to strengthen overall crime response capabilities in the Southeast Asian region. They aim to increase the deployment of police attaches in Southeast Asian countries in collaboration with relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and are advocating for an increase of 30 personnel for international cooperation. “We have requested reinforcement of international cooperation personnel to strengthen crime response in Cambodia and the Southeast Asian region,” Acting Commissioner Yu reported.
However, he also acknowledged the challenges of cooperating with Cambodian authorities, noting, “Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, police cooperation is relatively less smooth.” He stated that they would consider utilizing international organizations like Interpol or ASEANAPOL for support and pressure. The police aim to establish a multi-layered cooperation network through bilateral negotiations with the local government and via international organizations.
In response to criticism that the investigation process has been delayed, Yu remarked that the procedures were necessary. “Cambodia requested mutual criminal justice process, which requires decisions from both countries’ Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, and the local court,” he explained. He also mentioned, “We will dispatch a joint investigative team to the site this month to conduct an autopsy and request access to investigation records.”