Seoul, 7 October 2026
Specialist police officers from the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Korea have completed a four-day operational exchange in Seoul focused on complex terrorist incidents, major-event security and police response capabilities.
Hosted by the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), the peer-to-peer exchange brought together Korean practitioners and a seven-member European delegation of specialist police officers and counterterrorism experts.
Over four days, participants exchanged experience in counterterrorism and emergency response, including command and inter-agency coordination, the integration of intelligence into police operations, tactical approaches, and operational readiness. Discussions also examined the challenges of securing major international events, including the deployment and coordination of specialist capabilities and protective security.
The exchange also covered CBRN-E incidents, explosive threats and post-blast response, providing an opportunity for Korean and European counterparts to compare operational experience and identify areas for further cooperation. The European delegation included practitioners from Spain’s Grupo Especial de Operaciones and Unidad de Intervención Policial, Portugal’s Grupo de Operações Especiais, the Finnish Police and European Explosive Ordnance Disposal Network, as well as the EU Counterterrorism Expert to ASEAN.
“Convening practitioners with different areas of expertise from Europe and the Republic of Korea provided an opportunity to share operational experience, discuss common challenges and learn from different approaches,” said Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the EU to the Republic of Korea.
“The message is clear: the EU is here to stay as a reliable, steadfast security and defence partner of the Republic of Korea,” he added.
A senior official from the KNPA’s Counter-Terrorism and Crisis Management Division said: “This exchange provided a valuable opportunity for Korean and European police practitioners to share operational experience and deepen mutual understanding. The discussions demonstrated the importance of close cooperation and strong professional networks in responding to increasingly complex security challenges. We look forward to continuing to strengthen practical cooperation with our European partners.”
The exchange builds on growing counterterrorism cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Korea. In April 2026, the EU and KNPA jointly organised the 5th International Counter-Terrorism Symposium in Incheon, examining the implications of emerging technologies for terrorism and counterterrorism. The Seoul initiative continues that dialogue through a smaller, operationally focused format that brings specialist practitioners together to share experience directly.
By strengthening direct links between participating practitioners and providing a basis for continued operational cooperation, the exchange supported the objectives of the EU-Republic of Korea Security and Defence Partnership, signed in November 2024, which calls for greater interaction between European and Korean counterterrorism entities and closer cooperation on shared security challenges.
The initiative was organised by the Korean National Police Agency in partnership with the EU ESIWA+ project (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific).
About the EU ESIWA+ project
ESIWA+ (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific) supports security engagement in the areas of counterterrorism, maritime security, cyber security and crisis management. The project is co-funded by the European Union, Germany and France, and is co-implemented by GIZ International Services and Expertise France.
Source – EEAS