Malaysia, South Korea Deepen Maritime Ties With KCG Training Ship Badaro Visit

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- South Korea’s Coast Guard (KCG) training ship, Badaro, made a four-day port call in Malaysia at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal (PKCT), beginning July 7.

The port call was part of South Korea’s 2025 Overseas Training Voyage for its New Police Cadets, aimed at nurturing future Korean Coast Guard officers and strengthening regional cooperation within ASEAN, including Malaysia.

South Korea’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Yeo Seung-bae, said the visit greatly contributes to strengthening Korea-Malaysia maritime cooperation. 

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“We hope that regular training ship visits and joint exercises will further solidify practical cooperation between our authorities and contribute to maritime safety in the region,” he said in a statement. 

This marks the first visit by a KCG training vessel to Malaysia since 2019 and represents a significant milestone in maritime cooperation between the two nations, especially following the upgrade of their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership last year.

The visit also coincides with discussions on a potential Korea-Malaysia Maritime Safety Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is expected to pave the way for deeper collaboration through regular port calls and joint exercises between the KCG and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

Meanwhile, during the four-day port call, a series of exchange and cooperation programmes between Korea and MMEA are scheduled to take place.

The cadets will visit MMEA vessels and air units to observe local maritime security operations, conduct joint anti-drug and search-and-rescue exercises, and participate in information-sharing and friendship-building activities with their Malaysian counterparts.

The port call ceremony was attended by key Malaysian officials, including the Deputy Director of the MMEA, First Admiral Datuk Che Engku Suhaimi Che Engku Daik, and the Chairman of the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), Datuk Mohamed Suffian Awang, who expressed their interest in further enhancing bilateral maritime safety cooperation.

The Badaro, carrying a total of 121 personnel, including 55 crew members and 66 new cadets, departed from Yeosu Port, South Korea, on June 27 and has since conducted a range of at-sea training activities to strengthen operational readiness.

-- BERNAMA