64 South Koreans Deportees Face Investigation Over Cambodia Online Scam Links

Sixty-four South Koreans detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in online scam operations were repatriated to South Korea on a chartered flight, where most face criminal investigations. Their return follows the torture and death of a South Korean college student in Cambodia, who was reportedly forced to work at a scam center, sparking national outrage and prompting the South Korean government to send officials to coordinate with Cambodian authorities. Many repatriates were arrested during Cambodian crackdowns on scam hubs, with South Korean officials estimating about 1,000 nationals among roughly 200,000 scam workers in Cambodia. Authorities aim to determine if the individuals joined the scams voluntarily or were coerced through false job offers, as the scams have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic and generate billions annually for international crime networks. South Korea has imposed a travel ban on parts of Cambodia, including the area where the student was found, although Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has requested the restrictions be reconsidered. President Lee Jae Myung has ordered urgent measures to remove illegal job advertisements targeting vulnerable South Koreans and to intensify efforts against such scams.