South Korean authorities are moving to formally arrest the majority of 64 citizens repatriated from Cambodia, where they were allegedly involved in online scam operations. The individuals, detained in Cambodia over recent months, were flown back to South Korea on a charter flight last Saturday. Upon arrival, they were held for questioning to determine whether their participation in the scam organizations was voluntary or coerced. Police have requested arrest warrants for 58 of the returnees, accusing them of engaging in fraudulent activities such as romantic scams, fake investment schemes, and voice phishing, primarily targeting fellow South Koreans. Courts are expected to decide on the arrest requests in the coming days. Five individuals have been released, though the reasons remain undisclosed as investigations continue. Four returnees reported being beaten while held against their will in Cambodian scam centers. The case has sparked public outcry in South Korea, urging stronger measures to protect citizens from being trafficked into overseas scam operations. This follows the tragic death of a South Korean student in Cambodia, who was reportedly lured into providing his bank account for scam activities and later tortured. The U.N. estimates that over 100,000 people have been trafficked to scam centers in Cambodia, with similar numbers in Myanmar and other regions. South Korea has imposed a travel ban on parts of Cambodia and dispatched a government delegation to address the issue. Interpol reports indicate that the reach of these scam centers has expanded globally, with victims now being trafficked from South America, Western Europe, Eastern Africa, and new centers emerging in the Middle East, West Africa, and Central America.
South Korea seeks to arrest dozens of online scam suspects repatriated from Cambodia
