This Year Marks the First Asia Maritime Security Chiefs Meeting in Korea... Cooperation in Maritime Drug Enforcement

Coast Guard Headquarters to Hold Meetings in June and September... Formation of 5 Expert Groups

The Asia Maritime Security Agency Chiefs' Meeting, discussing maritime security cooperation, will be held in Korea for the first time this year.

The Korea Coast Guard announced on the 18th that it will host the "20th Asia Maritime Security Agency Chiefs' Meeting (HACGAM)" twice in Incheon in June and September. The venue is being planned around Songdo and Yeongjongdo, but has not yet been finalized.

HACGAM is a maritime security agency consultative body formed in 2004 for joint response to international crimes and search and rescue cooperation in Asian waters. It consists of 22 countries including Korea, China, and Japan, one region (Hong Kong), and two international organizations (the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).

The 19th Asia Coast Guard Agency Chiefs Meeting held in T?rkiye on September 7, 2023
[Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

This year's meeting will be held with an experts' meeting in June followed by the chiefs' meeting in September. Five expert groups focusing on strengthening the capabilities of maritime security agencies in Asia, preventing maritime crimes, protecting the marine environment, search and rescue, and information exchange will discuss cooperation measures to enhance maritime safety.

In addition, to crack down on maritime drug smuggling, which has recently emerged as a social issue, member countries will strengthen practical information exchange and work to establish an international cooperation system among Asian countries.

Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, stated, "As this is the first meeting held domestically, we will share the capabilities of the Korea Coast Guard with Asian countries and actively strive to strengthen maritime security, fulfilling our responsibilities and roles in the international community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.