South Korean and Cambodian authorities are grappling with conflicting assessments over the roles of South Korean nationals involved in large-scale online scam operations in Cambodia, even as dozens face arrest warrants back home.
A South Korean parliamentary delegation from the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee recently inspected a building in Phnom Penh. This facility was reportedly used as an online scam center where dozens of South Koreans worked.
Cambodia’s Anti-Online Crime Committee presented evidence to the delegation. Police intelligence suggested that most South Koreans working at the center did so voluntarily, without coercion or violence.
However, South Korean officials maintain their skepticism. They continue to suspect that some individuals may have been unknowingly lured into working for the scam operation.
Authorities in South Korea have since issued arrest warrants for 49 of the 64 repatriated individuals. More warrants are reportedly under consideration. The accused are implicated in various online fraud schemes, including romance scams, investment fraud, and phishing, primarily targeting other South Koreans.
These legal actions follow a raid by Cambodian officials on the Phnom Penh building on July 5. A group of South Koreans was then repatriated on October 18 via a special flight from the Cambodian capital.
Over the past four months, Cambodian officials have conducted 92 raids across 18 provinces nationwide. These operations have led to the apprehension of over 3,400 suspects representing 20 nationalities.
Most of those detained in Cambodia’s broader crackdown were identified as victims forced into labor at scam centers and have since been repatriated. Separately, 75 individuals believed to be orchestrating these scam operations are currently facing prosecution in Cambodian courts.
Both the Cambodian and South Korean governments have pledged close cooperation. They aim to eradicate online scam rings across the region. This includes enhancing checks on foreign workers to prevent Cambodia from becoming a base for cybercrime in Southeast Asia.