South Korea will repatriate 73 nationals detained in Cambodia on suspicion of orchestrating online scams that allegedly stole 48.6 billion won ($33 million). The group of 65 men and eight women is part of a broader crackdown after the death of a Korean student at a scam compound sparked public outrage. A chartered plane will bring the suspects back this week, and authorities say about 60 South Koreans will remain detained in Cambodia afterward. Officials warn that scam rings in Southeast Asia use trafficked workers and estimate global losses at $18–$37 billion in 2023.
South Korea to Repatriate 73 Suspects Detained in Cambodia Over Large-Scale Online Scams
FILE - South Koreans, walking in the line to the left, who are allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia arrive at the Incheon International Airport, in Incheon, South Korea, Oct. 18, 2025. (Yonhap via AP, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korean authorities will repatriate 73 nationals detained in Cambodia this week on suspicion of operating large-scale online scam operations that defrauded fellow citizens of 48.6 billion won (about $33 million), the government said.
The group — 65 men and eight women — was among roughly 260 South Koreans detained during a recent Cambodian crackdown on scam compounds. Officials said a chartered aircraft will fly to Phnom Penh and is expected to return Friday; the suspects will be handed immediately to investigative authorities on arrival in South Korea.
Background and public outcry
Public outrage in South Korea intensified after a Korean student was found dead last summer at a suspected scam compound in Cambodia. South Korean authorities said the student had been beaten and tortured, prompting Seoul to send a government delegation to Phnom Penh in October to coordinate a response and secure the safe return of nationals.
Regional context
Authorities and experts say online fraud operations have proliferated in parts of Southeast Asia — particularly Cambodia and Myanmar — where trafficked foreign nationals are often coerced into running romance and cryptocurrency scams after being lured by false job offers and then held in near‑slave conditions. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime estimated global losses from such scams at $18 billion to $37 billion in 2023.
In January, Cambodia announced it had arrested and extradited to China a business figure accused of running a major online scam enterprise.
Repatriation figures and outlook
Since October, roughly 130 South Korean suspects have already been returned from Cambodia; fewer than 30 have been repatriated from Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines combined. After this week's planned flight, police say about 60 South Koreans will remain detained in Cambodia awaiting repatriation. Seoul has previously estimated that around 1,000 South Koreans may be inside scam centers in Cambodia, and officials acknowledge some of those individuals may be victims of forced labor.
South Korean authorities said they will continue coordinated efforts with regional partners to crack down on online fraud networks and to protect and repatriate nationals exploited abroad.
Help us improve.
