South Korea has dispatched a high-level, multi-agency task force to Cambodia to directly address an escalating crisis of job scams that have led to kidnappings, detention, and at least one death involving its citizens.
The task force, led by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-ah, arrived in Phnom Penh on October 16, 2025, to coordinate with Cambodian authorities. Its mission is to combat sophisticated transnational scams that lure South Koreans abroad for fraudulent work, often resulting in their confinement or worse.
This urgent initiative follows reports of a South Korean university student being tortured to death in Cambodia. The delegation intends to discuss this severe case with high-ranking Cambodian government officials.
Comprised of officials from South Korea’s National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, and National Intelligence Service, the team will meet with Cambodian counterparts. They aim to formulate strategies to counter the expanding network of job-related fraud and abductions.
Discussions will also focus on the repatriation of 61 South Korean nationals currently held by Cambodian immigration authorities. These individuals are suspected of involvement in transnational criminal activities.
South Korean police have already filed preliminary charges against the suspects. The government aims to secure the return of all 61 citizens within the current week, potentially utilizing special flights.
The total number of detained South Koreans was initially 63, but two individuals were repatriated last Tuesday. The task force landed at Techo International Airport, located south of the capital Phnom Penh. The dispatch was reported by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.