In a significant diplomatic move, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on Monday to address the escalating issue of large-scale online scam operations in Cambodia. The meeting, which was announced by Hun Manet on social media, focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation to combat these criminal activities, which have recently been linked to the tragic death of a South Korean student. The 22-year-old Park Min-ho was allegedly lured to Cambodia, forced to work in a scam center, and later found brutally tortured and beaten in August. His death has sparked widespread outrage in South Korea, prompting urgent governmental action. The South Korean foreign ministry revealed that discussions included the establishment of a joint police task force to tackle scam-related crimes. Minister Cho is set to conclude his visit on Tuesday. This initiative follows the repatriation of 64 South Koreans last month, 50 of whom were arrested upon arrival for their alleged involvement in online fraud. The United Nations estimates that international cybercriminals generate billions annually through these scams, which often involve kidnapping, coercion, and violence. Cambodian scam centers are believed to employ around 200,000 workers, including 1,000 South Koreans, highlighting the scale of the problem.
South Korean foreign minister meets Cambodia’s leader to push effort to fight criminal cyberscams
