SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – Authorities are moving to formally arrest 58 of the 64 South Koreans recently repatriated from Cambodia. These individuals are allegedly connected to online scam organizations operating in Cambodia, according to the Korean National Police Agency. The 64 South Koreans were detained over the past several months and arrived back in South Korea on a charter flight on Saturday.
Upon their arrival, they were immediately detained while police investigated whether they voluntarily participated in these scam organizations or were coerced into working there. The police outlined that those being sought for arrest are accused of engaging in a range of online fraud activities, including romantic scams, fraudulent investment schemes, and voice phishing, primarily targeting fellow South Koreans.
Online scams have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, with Southeast Asia emerging as a hub for such criminal activities. Many innocent individuals have been forced to work as scammers under the threat of violence, creating a dual victim scenario: those working in scams and their targets. According to monitoring groups, these online scams yield billions of dollars annually for international criminal organizations.
The Korean authorities have been prompted by public demand to intensify measures to protect South Koreans from being sent overseas to scam centers following a tragic incident in August, in which a South Korean national was found dead. This individual had traveled to Cambodia under the pretense of providing a bank account for a scam operation, only to ultimately face torture, as reported by Cambodian authorities.
The United Nations and other organizations estimate that at least 100,000 individuals have been trafficked to scam centers in Cambodia, with a similar number trafficked to Myanmar and tens of thousands more in other nations. In Seoul, officials believe approximately 1,000 South Koreans may still be involved in scam operations in Cambodia. In response, South Korean authorities recently imposed travel restrictions on parts of Cambodia and dispatched a government team to discuss collaborative efforts regarding this alarming situation.
Since the identification of online scam centers predominantly in Southeast Asia, an Interpol report suggests that the trafficking of victims has expanded in recent years to include individuals from South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Africa. There have also been reports of new scam centers emerging in regions such as the Middle East, West Africa, and Central America.
The police stated that out of the 64 returnees, five have already been released, although the reasons for their release remain undisclosed as investigations continue. Notably, four of the returnees reported to authorities that they were physically abused while held against their will in the scam centers in Cambodia.
As the Korean courts prepare to evaluate the requests for arrest warrants in the coming days, the broader implications of the situation remain significant, drawing attention to the necessity for heightened international cooperation in combating human trafficking and online scams.
