Cambodia to deport 60 South Koreans accused of online scam involvement

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Oct 2025 15:00

60 South Koreans detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in transnational scam operations will be repatriated early Saturday.

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South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina (R) arrives for a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation building in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on October 17, 2025. (AFP)

Cambodia is set to deport 60 South Koreans detained for alleged participation in cyber scam operations, with a chartered flight scheduled to depart Phnom Penh for Incheon early Saturday, according to South Korean officials.

National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac confirmed that final arrangements were being made with Cambodian authorities to facilitate the deportation, which is expected to occur around midnight local time.

"Around midnight tonight local time in Cambodia, or early tomorrow morning Korea time, a chartered flight is expected to depart Phnom Penh for Incheon, with final discussions underway with Cambodian authorities," National Security Advisor Wi said.

"Since nearly all of them are classified as criminal suspects, they will be repatriated in accordance with appropriate legal procedures," he added.

The move comes amid a growing diplomatic effort between South Korea and Cambodia to address the surge in transnational cybercrime networks, many of which are linked to human trafficking and forced labor.

Crackdown on scam networks

Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina, who led a South Korean delegation to Phnom Penh earlier this week, met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss coordinated measures to dismantle scam centers and protect foreign nationals. The two sides agreed to strengthen joint investigations and improve communication channels for victim assistance.

Seoul previously confirmed that 63 of its citizens had been detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in online scam operations. South Korean authorities said the group includes both “voluntary and involuntary participants,” individuals who were either complicit in the operations or coerced under threat of violence.

According to South Korean police estimates, roughly 1,000 South Koreans are among the 200,000 people believed to be working in Cambodia’s sprawling scam industry, which has exploded in recent years.

'Pig butchering' scams and human trafficking

The scams, often referred to as “pig butchering” schemes, involve fraudsters cultivating online relationships with victims and convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency ventures before stealing their funds.

Investigations have revealed that many participants in these operations are victims of trafficking, lured to Cambodia with promises of legitimate employment before being detained in heavily guarded compounds and forced to work under abusive conditions.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused local authorities of turning a blind eye to such crimes or even profiting from them. The United Nations and multiple NGOs have documented cases of beatings, torture, and confinement in scam compounds across Cambodia’s Sihanoukville, Poipet, and Bavet regions.

Diplomatic and domestic response

South Korea has intensified its diplomatic outreach and law enforcement cooperation to secure the release of its citizens and combat the regional networks behind these scams. Earlier this week, Seoul imposed new travel restrictions on several areas in Cambodia associated with trafficking and online fraud.

The repatriation marks one of the largest coordinated efforts between the two countries in tackling the cybercrime epidemic that has ensnared thousands of foreign nationals.

As Cambodian authorities continue their crackdown, Seoul reiterated that it will provide legal assistance and rehabilitation support to the returning citizens, while pursuing accountability for those found complicit in the operations.