59 South Koreans Repatriated from Cambodia Over Online Scams

A total of 59 South Koreans were repatriated to South Korea on Saturday morning after being detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in large-scale online scams, authorities confirmed. The group arrived at Incheon International Airport in handcuffs, several days after South Korea dispatched a team to Cambodia to investigate scam centres implicated in the abuse and forced participation of its nationals. These arrests form part of a broader crackdown on transnational online scams that have ensnared thousands of South Koreans in recent years.

The detainees are among an estimated 200,000 individuals across Southeast Asia reportedly drawn into online scam networks, according to the United Nations. Some were lured by promises of lucrative employment, while others were coerced into participation. Cambodian authorities said the majority of the group had been apprehended during coordinated raids targeting scam centres, while five members reportedly surrendered voluntarily, escaping the criminal network. The repatriated South Koreans now face investigation at relevant police stations in South Korea for their alleged involvement in cybercrime activities.

Officials highlighted that under South Korean law, aircraft operated by national carriers are considered Korean territory. As a result, law enforcement was able to execute arrest warrants on board the chartered flight that transported the suspects. South Korea’s National Security Adviser, Wi Sung-lac, emphasized that the individuals’ roles varied, with some having been involuntarily drawn into scams, but noted that “most of them should be regarded as having committed criminal acts.”

The repatriation follows troubling reports of abuse within Cambodian scam centres. Earlier this month, a South Korean student involved in a scam operation reportedly died under alleged torture, triggering heightened diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met with South Korean officials to discuss measures to combat transnational cybercrime. In a social media post, Manet stressed, “Cambodia and the Republic of Korea will continue to strengthen our collaboration to prevent, suppress, and combat online scams more effectively.”

Experts warn that online scams in Southeast Asia have become increasingly sophisticated, ranging from crypto fraud to romance scams, where perpetrators pose as romantic interests to extract money from unsuspecting victims. In a recent development, the US government seized over $14 billion in bitcoin linked to a Cambodian business empire running a crypto scam, underscoring the international scale of the problem. The UN estimates that scam centres across the region generate billions of dollars annually for organized crime networks.

South Korean authorities are now intensifying efforts to dismantle these transnational scam operations. Investigators are seeking to identify the full scope of criminal activity, trace financial flows, and hold all participants accountable. The repatriation of the 59 South Koreans marks a significant step in the bilateral crackdown on online scams and highlights the growing global effort to combat cybercrime.