In a significant international operation, 59 South Koreans detained in Cambodia for their alleged participation in online scam networks have been repatriated to their home country. The group, escorted in handcuffs, arrived at Incheon Airport on Saturday morning. This development follows a high-level diplomatic mission by South Korean officials to Cambodia, prompted by reports of a South Korean student’s alleged death due to torture within a scam center. The repatriation underscores the growing global concern over cybercrime and human exploitation in Southeast Asia. According to the United Nations, an estimated 200,000 individuals have been ensnared in such schemes across the region, lured by promises of lucrative jobs or coerced into participation. The majority of the repatriated individuals were apprehended during a Cambodian government crackdown, while five reportedly surrendered voluntarily. Upon arrival, they were immediately taken into custody by South Korean authorities, as the aircraft carrying them is considered South Korean territory under national law. South Korea’s National Security Adviser, Wi Sung-lac, emphasized that the group’s involvement in the scams ranged from voluntary to involuntary, with most likely having committed criminal acts. The repatriation coincides with heightened diplomatic efforts between South Korea and Cambodia to combat transnational cybercrime. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet recently met with South Korean officials to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in preventing and suppressing online scams. This incident also follows a U.S. government crackdown on a Cambodian business empire allegedly involved in a $14 billion cryptocurrency scam. Online fraud centers in Southeast Asia, including those orchestrating romance scams, generate billions annually for criminal networks, according to UN estimates.