SEOUL, South Korea – In a significant international law enforcement operation, Cambodia is set to repatriate 73 South Korean nationals detained for their alleged involvement in sophisticated online scam operations. This constitutes the largest single repatriation of Korean criminal suspects from overseas jurisdictions to date.
The suspects, comprising 65 men and 8 women, are accused of orchestrating financial scams that defrauded their compatriots of approximately 48.6 billion won (equivalent to $33 million). These individuals were among 260 South Koreans apprehended during Cambodia’s recent intensified crackdown on cybercrime compounds.
This crackdown gained momentum following tragic events last summer that sparked public outrage in South Korea. The death of a Korean student, who was reportedly forced into labor at a Cambodian scam compound and subjected to torture and physical abuse, prompted decisive government action. In response, South Korea dispatched a high-level delegation to Cambodia in October to coordinate a bilateral response to these criminal networks.
According to official statements, South Korean authorities will deploy a chartered aircraft to transport the suspects back to Seoul, with arrival expected on Friday. Upon landing, all individuals will be immediately transferred to investigative agencies for formal processing.
The phenomenon of cybercrime has seen alarming growth across Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia and Myanmar. Criminal organizations have established operations where trafficked foreign nationals, often lured by deceptive job offers, are compelled to execute romance and cryptocurrency scams under conditions resembling modern slavery. United Nations estimates indicate that global victims of such scams suffered financial losses between $18 billion and $37 billion in 2023 alone.
Since October, approximately 130 Korean suspects have been returned from Cambodia, with fewer than 30 additional individuals repatriated from Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines combined. Following Friday’s operation, around 60 South Korean nationals will remain in Cambodian detention awaiting repatriation. South Korean officials previously estimated that approximately 1,000 of its citizens were involved in scam centers throughout Cambodia, including potential victims of forced labor.
South Korean authorities have committed to continuing their collaborative international efforts to combat cybercrimes targeting their citizens worldwide.