The Central Radio Management Office under South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Police Agency are strengthening cooperation to quickly block phone numbers misused for voice phishing and other telecommunications financial fraud.

The Central Radio Management Office signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday with the National Police Agency's Integrated Response Team for telecommunications financial fraud at KT's Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno district, Seoul.

The agreement was designed to strengthen reporting and blocking procedures for phone numbers misused in crimes based on upgrades to the Illegal Use Number Suspension System and the Integrated Analysis Response System operated by the two agencies.

Using the upgraded systems, the two agencies agreed to quickly and accurately report and block phone numbers used in crimes and to share information related to communications tools used in crimes. They will also set up hotlines between mobile carriers and related agencies and operate regular working-level consultative bodies. This

will strengthen a joint response system to share and block in real time communications lines used for crimes such as voice phishing, phishing scams and illegal phones, along with related information. Major mobile carriers and related agencies will also take part in the consultative bodies to speed up information sharing and responses on lines used for crimes.

Choi Jun-ho (최준호), head of the Central Radio Management Office, said telecommunications financial fraud such as voice phishing is a representative livelihood-related crime that threatens the public's assets. He said the office would work with the integrated response team to reduce damage from crimes involving communications services.

Oh Chang-bae (오창배), head of the National Police Agency's Integrated Response Team for telecommunications financial fraud, said he would do his best to protect the public's assets by strengthening cooperation with related agencies and upgrading a rapid detection and blocking system for crime methods.