80 Koreans Still Missing in Cambodia Scam Crisis

Yonyap

South Korea is intensifying efforts to locate 80 of its nationals still unaccounted for in Cambodia, as authorities unravel a disturbing network of abductions, forced labour and online fraud targeting young Koreans.

The alarm was raised following the death of 22-year-old student Park, who was found tortured and dead near Bokor Mountain in August. Police believe he was recruited by a university senior into a scam syndicate operating out of Cambodia. His case has become emblematic of a broader crisis.

According to Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 330 cases involving missing or detained Koreans in Cambodia were filed between January and August. While most have been resolved, 80 remain open, with victims either still held or out of contact.

The scams typically begin with fake job offers promising high salaries for roles in translation or social media. Victims arrive in Cambodia only to be confined in compounds run by criminal groups, forced to operate phishing call centres or investment fraud schemes. Survivors report beatings, surveillance, and threats of violence.

One man escaped after nearly two years in captivity, only to be arrested upon return to Korea for his role in the operation. Others have been released after families paid ransoms in cryptocurrency.

South Korean police have arrested 54 individuals linked to the Cambodian scam network and issued Interpol red notices for 28 more. Yet the scale of the problem remains daunting. Cambodian authorities have detained dozens of Koreans suspected of willingly participating in the scams, complicating efforts to distinguish victims from perpetrators.

Seoul is negotiating with Phnom Penh to establish a “Korea desk” within Cambodian law enforcement, aiming to speed up investigations and repatriations. But progress is slow, and frustration is mounting.

Lawmakers are calling for tougher diplomatic action, with some suggesting that Korea’s substantial aid to Cambodia—nearly $290 million for 2025—could be leveraged to demand accountability.

As of now, 80 Korean citizens remain missing, and families are left waiting, hoping for answers in a crisis that has exposed the dark underbelly of transnational cybercrime.

-2025-10-15