Kuala Lumpur, Oct 27 (NationPress) President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea and Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia reached an agreement on Monday to form a collaborative task force comprising law enforcement officials from both nations aimed at probing into online scams and other crimes directed at Korean citizens, as stated by Lee's office.

This decision was made during their summit held on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Kuala Lumpur. This initiative follows the tragic death of a Korean college student in Cambodia, which has ignited significant public outcry in South Korea.

According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the leaders agreed to establish a Cambodia-based task force focused on crimes against Korean nationals starting in November. The specifics regarding the number of Korean police officers involved and the operational strategy for the task force will be determined promptly.

South Korea has been keen on setting up a dedicated unit under Cambodian police to investigate crimes affecting Korean citizens, akin to the Korean Desk currently functioning in the Philippines.

Lee emphasized that South Koreans are presently very alert to scam-related offenses due to recent events and expressed appreciation for Cambodia's commitment to safeguarding Korean nationals, advocating for enhanced collaboration to jointly combat such offenses.

During their dialogue, Manet extended condolences regarding the demise of the Korean student who had been lured to work at a scam center in Cambodia, labeling the incident as unfortunate.

Manet highlighted that Cambodian authorities acted promptly to dismantle scam operations and apprehend those responsible, committing to closer collaboration in addressing cross-border crimes, including drug and human trafficking.

This is a shared challenge that transcends national boundaries, Manet stated, stressing the necessity for regional collaboration to combat the surge in transnational crimes in Southeast Asia.

The remains of the South Korean university student, reportedly tortured to death by a criminal syndicate in Cambodia, returned home last week, more than two months after his body was discovered.

This incident prompted the South Korean government to send a delegation to Cambodia earlier this month to tackle the escalating crime issue and impose travel restrictions on certain areas where Koreans have been detained.

During the discussions, Lee indicated he would direct the government to contemplate easing travel advisories in some regions of Cambodia, including Phnom Penh, after evaluating the security landscape and in light of the establishment of the joint investigation team focused on Koreans, as per the spokesperson's remarks.

The two leaders also explored avenues to strengthen bilateral relations. Lee committed to ongoing support for Cambodia's development and expressed hopes for increased mutual visits and high-level dialogues.

Manet acknowledged that South Korea is a primary investor and significant source of tourism for Cambodia, expressing aspirations to expand cooperation in security and defense.