Lee Myung-goo has become the fourth internal appointee to serve as the head of the Korea Customs Service since its establishment. Born in 1969 in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, he graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in business administration and earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Birmingham. He entered public service after passing the 36th National Civil Service Examination and has held various key positions within the Customs Service.
Lee has served as the director of the Foreign Exchange Investigation Division, the Planning and Finance Officer, and the Director of Customs Support. He also gained practical experience as the head of customs in Daegu, Seoul, and Busan. From 2007 to 2011, he worked at the World Customs Organization, broadening his expertise in international trade and customs. Uncommonly for a customs official, he was recognized for his tax expertise while serving as a permanent judge at the National Tax Tribunal.
After being appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service in September 2023, Lee was promoted to Commissioner in July of the following year. This marks the first time since 2020 that an internal candidate has been appointed as Commissioner, and it is only the fourth instance since the agency's founding in 1970.
Recently, Lee has focused on efforts to restore the country’s status as a 'drug-free nation.' He noted, "As of last year, the majority of drug inflows occurred through travelers, international mail, and express cargo," adding that customs inspections are being significantly strengthened to prevent smuggling through travelers.
To combat the spread of drugs via international mail, the Customs Service is enhancing its so-called 'secondary barrier' system. This involves redesigning the postal logistics network to improve inspection efficiency and accuracy. Targeted inspections of express cargo from high-risk countries have resulted in a 5% increase in the weight of seized drugs compared to the previous year as of the end of March.
Lee is also intensifying vigilance against new drugs such as fentanyl. He stated, "Fentanyl poses a serious threat to our society. It has already become a significant social issue in the United States, with considerable concerns about misuse." He emphasized that while domestic seizures are currently low, investigators must continue to monitor the situation closely.
Furthermore, he noted, "Recently, there have been attempts to import raw materials for drug manufacturing and produce them domestically," and pledged to enhance information analysis capabilities and tighten the secondary barrier system to improve inspection accuracy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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