By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae and Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam of the Republic of Singapore signed the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Singapore on July 24, 2024, in Singapore.

The Treaty establishes an institutional foundation for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters between the two countries that celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year, by laying out the specific scope and procedures for the legal assistance. 

The Treaty is expected to contribute to enhancing the efficiency of criminal proceedings between the two countries and promoting the rights and interests of the nationals of the two countries by facilitating and expediting mutual legal assistance.

   
The Treaty will enter into force after both countries complete their domestic procedures for the entry into force of the Treaty and notify each other in writing of the completion of such procedures.

As of July 24, 2024, the Republic of Korea has bilateral and multilateral treaties on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with 77 countries that are in force.

Before the signing ceremony, Minister Park had a bilateral meeting with Minister Shanmugam to discuss ways for the two countries to cooperate in the field of administration in judicial matters, and agreed to further strengthen mutual cooperation through the signing of the Treaty to achieve criminal justice and the rule of law.