In a significant development, dozens of South Korean nationals allegedly linked to online scam operations in Cambodia are set to be repatriated to their home country. A charter flight is scheduled to depart Phnom Penh on Saturday, marking a collaborative effort between South Korea and Cambodia to address the growing issue of fraudulent activities in the region. This move comes in the wake of the tragic death of a South Korean student, who was reportedly coerced into working at a scam center in Cambodia, sparking widespread public outrage in South Korea. The incident prompted the South Korean government to dispatch a high-level delegation to Phnom Penh for discussions on joint measures to combat such crimes. Approximately 60 South Koreans, previously detained during crackdowns on scam centers, are expected to be on the flight. Upon their return, they will undergo investigations to determine whether they were willing participants or victims of deceptive job advertisements. South Korean officials estimate that around 1,000 of their citizens are among the 200,000 workers employed in Cambodian scam centers. The rise in online scams, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has created a dual victim pool: individuals forced into fraudulent activities under duress and those targeted by scams. The South Korean government has also implemented a travel ban to certain parts of Cambodia, including Bokor Mountain in Kampot province, where the deceased student was found. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged Seoul to reconsider these restrictions. Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for immediate action to curb illegal job advertisements not only in Cambodia but across Southeast Asia. The global reach of these scam centers has expanded, with reports of victims being trafficked from regions as far as South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Africa, according to an Interpol report released in June.
Koreans allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia to be repatriated to face probes at home
