NOI chief visits China probably to discuss repatriation of Coupang data leak suspect

▲ Park Sung-joo, head of the National Office of Investigation, speaks during a meeting of ranking police officials in Seoul on Feb. 5, 2026. (Yonhap)

top police official-China visit

NOI chief visits China probably to discuss repatriation of Coupang data leak suspect

SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- Park Sung-joo, head of the National Office of Investigation (NOI) under the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), is set to begin his three-day visit to China on Monday to discuss crime response cooperation measures with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Park's office said.

Park's visit to Beijing is a follow-up measure to the memorandum of understanding that was signed between the KNPA and the MPS during the South Korea-China summit held on the occasion of last year's APEC summit, the NOI said in a press release.

Park plans to conclude an annex to the MOU that contains specific implementation measures on crime response cooperation, the NOI said, adding he will also discuss sharing information on voice phishing crimes, tracking criminal proceeds and arresting fugitives overseas.

In this regard, some watchers speculate that the two countries' investigative authorities may discuss the extradition of a former Coupang Corp. employee of Chinese nationality, who has been known as a key suspect behind the e-commerce giant's massive data breach last year.

The South Korean prosecution has obtained an arrest warrant for the former Coupang employee now staying in China and is seeking his repatriation in cooperation with Interpol.

The NOI said it will later announce whether there is bilateral cooperation on individual cases and the specific details of the possible investigation cooperation.

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