[Exclusive] Despite the Cambodia Crisis, International Cooperation Remains Precarious... INTERPOL Dispatches Halved in 10 Years

As a series of abduction and confinement incidents involving Korean nationals in the Kingdom of Cambodia have highlighted the importance of international investigative cooperation, the number of police officers dispatched overseas to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has been halved over the past decade. Notably, the KNPA currently holds only one dedicated INTERPOL position, raising concerns that the foundation of the international cooperation network is weakening amid ongoing staff reductions.
According to a legislative research response on international cooperation investigations obtained by The Financial News on the 23rd through the office of Lee Dal-hee, a member of the Security and Public Administration Committee, only seven INTERPOL liaison officers were stationed abroad as of the end of June this year. This is just half the number from 2016, when there were 14. The annual trend shows that the number remained in double digits until 2022 (15 officers), but fell to 8 in 2023 and 9 in 2024. This year, the number decreased by two compared to last year.
INTERPOL liaison officers, affiliated with the KNPA, are dispatched to international organizations or foreign investigative agencies to handle international crime investigations, the pursuit and extradition of fugitives abroad, and cooperation with local agencies. Unlike police attachés under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these officers are managed directly by the police and are temporarily assigned to respond to international cooperation needs. Currently, dispatched personnel are stationed at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore, the Interpol Headquarters in France, and the Royal Thai Police.
Since the government-wide downsizing policy in 2022, the only official INTERPOL-related dedicated position retained by the KNPA is that of a Senior Superintendent at the IGCI. All other dispatched personnel are temporarily seconded from their original departments in a non-dedicated capacity. This structure inevitably leads to vacancies in the main and local organizations, as well as delays in personnel approval procedures.
In fact, one inspector dispatched to the Interpol Headquarters in France this year was notified of the extension approval only on April 24, just seven days before the end of the assignment on April 30. Such last-minute approvals make it virtually impossible to select and brief successors, raising concerns about potential gaps in overseas cooperation.
The Ministry of Personnel Management explained, "Dispatches are an exceptional personnel system used to temporarily and supplementarily support urgent national tasks, such as when it is difficult to quickly secure staff for newly established duties," adding, "Non-dedicated dispatches are more strictly limited and managed because they must also consider the potential for workforce gaps in the original agency." As a result, stricter restrictions on non-dedicated dispatches have led to a further decrease in INTERPOL personnel.
Due to the lack of dedicated positions, it has become difficult to maintain long-term assignments, resulting in shorter service periods or the need to repeat extension procedures annually. In July, the 'Regulations on the Duties of INTERPOL Liaison Officers' were revised to the 'Regulations on the Duties of Overseas Police Liaison Officers,' changing the minimum three-year assignment to a term of one to three years, with extensions possible in one-year increments.
As a result, there has been an increase in cases where approval is granted for shorter periods than agreed upon with the host institution, or where annual re-approval is required. For example, the current dedicated position at the IGCI (Senior Superintendent) was agreed with INTERPOL for a three-year term, but the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) initially approved only one year and nine months.
A KNPA official stated, "Stable and continuous management of overseas dispatch positions is essential for building networks with foreign agencies, so dedicated positions are appropriate." The official added, "We are continuously holding working-level consultations with MOIS to extend and increase the number of dedicated overseas dispatch positions." Key agenda items include converting existing non-dedicated positions to dedicated ones and identifying new dedicated positions.
Experts also argue that international cooperation should be elevated to a core national policy agenda. Lee Ung-Hyeok, a professor at Konkuk University’s Department of Police Administration, noted, "Recent crime trends are no longer confined to a single country, so transnational cooperation and coordination are essential. However, the government’s response has been rather passive." He advised, "It is necessary to establish a separate international response committee to prepare for such challenges."
yesji@fnnews.com Kim Ye-ji Reporter