A group of South Koreans suspected of participating in online scam operations in Cambodia arrived back in South Korea on Saturday aboard a chartered flight to face criminal inquiries.
Their return comes in the wake of the death of a South Korean student who was allegedly forced to work at a scam center in Cambodia, sparking outrage at home. In response, the South Korean government sent officials to Phnom Penh to coordinate efforts with Cambodian authorities.
Cambodian Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak had earlier confirmed that 64 South Koreans were being sent back late Friday. Upon arrival at Incheon International Airport, the returnees—wearing handcuffs and flanked by police—were taken to waiting security vehicles for transport.
Most of those repatriated were arrested during Cambodian crackdowns on online fraud hubs. They now face police investigations in South Korea, said national security director Wi Sung-lac. Authorities are working to determine whether the individuals voluntarily joined the scam operations or were coerced under false pretenses, such as fake job offers.
South Korean officials estimate that roughly 200,000 people are working in scam centers across Cambodia, including around 1,000 South Koreans.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online fraud schemes have surged. Victims include not only those deceived by fake investments, gambling sites, and romance scams, but also people forced to carry out the scams under threat of violence. Watchdog groups say international crime networks earn billions annually through these operations.
South Korea recently imposed a travel ban on parts of Cambodia, including Bokor Mountain in Kampot province, where the deceased student was found. Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged Seoul to reconsider the restrictions, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
President Lee Jae Myung has instructed authorities to take swift action to crack down on illegal job advertisements targeting vulnerable individuals — not just in Cambodia, but throughout Southeast Asia.
Online scam networks were once mainly concentrated in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia and Myanmar. However, a June Interpol report noted that in the past three years, victims have also been trafficked from regions such as South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Africa. Scam centers have also been identified in areas like the Middle East, West Africa, and Central America.