South Korea, ASEAN Unite Against Scam Networks

At regional meetings in Kuala Lumpur, President Lee Jae Myung urged deeper cooperation with ASEAN, ASEANAPOL and partners to combat transnational crimes, especially online scam centers targeting young Koreans. Seoul and Cambodia agreed to form a joint task force, including South Korean police officers, to begin operations next month to repatriate victims and dismantle scam gangs after reports that as many as 2,000 South Koreans were lured to Cambodia. Lee proposed expanding the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN, seeking higher people-to-people exchanges, a $300 billion bilateral trade target and a possible Korea‑ASEAN summit in 2029, and he sought regional backing for his outreach to North Korea. The World Economic Forum and Malaysia announced an ASEAN AI Safety Network and a Sustainable AI White Paper to advance trusted AI governance in Southeast Asia. The diplomacy comes as Seoul navigates strains in its U.S. partnership after a U.S. policy shift that included new 15% tariffs on Korean exports and deportations tied to a Georgia auto plant, prompting Seoul to pledge expanded U.S. LNG purchases and shipbuilding commitments. Lee also called for enhanced ASEAN+3 cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan to address geo-economic challenges and reaffirmed his commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula.