President Lee: "If you target Koreans, it will ruin your life; this must be made widely known in Southeast Asia"

According to Financial News, President Lee paid a surprise visit on the 26th to the office of the "Special Task Force on Transnational Crime Response" located at the Changseong Annex of Government Complex Seoul. He encouraged the officials there and ordered an active response to scam crimes based in overseas hubs.
At the site of the visit, President Lee stressed, "Make it widely known, including through cooperation with local media in Southeast Asia, that anyone who targets Koreans will end up ruining their lives," Kang Yu-jeong, spokesperson for Cheong Wa Dae, said in a written briefing.
President Lee was briefed that reports of various scam crimes, including voice phishing and no-show scams, have sharply decreased since the launch of the Special Task Force on Transnational Crime Response. He instructed, "Various scam crimes are destroying people’s lives and are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so continue to respond with the utmost rigor." He also received a report on the recent arrests in Cambodia and the process of bringing the largest number of suspects back to Korea, and he emphasized the importance of an organic cooperation system that breaks down barriers between government agencies.
In a video conference with staff of the Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans working on the ground in Cambodia, President Lee said, "You are going through a lot, separated from your families and working in difficult conditions," adding, "The entire nation is grateful for your hard work, so you should feel proud." He went on to say, "It would be good to widely publicize the results of the crackdowns and to make sure local media are well informed as well."
When President Lee told the public servants working hard in Cambodia, "We owe it all to you; I should at least buy each of you a fried chicken," one of the staff members on the video call replied, "Please buy us pizza," creating a warm and cheerful atmosphere. President Lee then told the local Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans, "Tell us whatever you need," and ordered active support in terms of budget and personnel.
The day before, President Lee had written on his social networking service (SNS) account about the forced repatriation to Korea of 73 Korean nationals suspected of committing scam crimes based in Cambodia, saying it was "thanks to the dedication of public officials from the police, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and others" and adding, "I should pay an encouraging visit." Just one day later, he followed through by visiting the site in person to encourage those involved.
The Special Task Force on Transnational Crime Response was created on President Lee’s orders as a pan-government control tower that concentrates national capabilities to respond to transnational crimes such as drugs, scams, online gambling, and digital sex crimes. Ten institutions are participating: the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the Prosecutors' Office, the National Tax Service (NTS), the Korea Customs Service (KCS), the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC), and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA).
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter