South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, today (10 Nov) and met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. The main objective was to expedite the crackdown on rapidly growing online fraud operations in the country, which have been linked to the death of a 22-year-old South Korean student in August.
Before the visit, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that talks between the two countries would focus on "cooperation to eliminate call center gang crimes in Cambodia," highlighting a key measure: establishing a "Korea-Cambodia joint task force" including police officers from both sides to help resolve issues involving South Koreans connected to these operations.
The incident drew wide attention in South Korea after the body of Park Min-ho, a 22-year-old South Korean student, was found in a pickup truck near Mount Bokor in Kampot Province, southern Cambodia. Officials reported he had been assaulted and tortured before his death, causing strong public outrage in South Korea and prompting the government to urgently send a delegation to Cambodia for negotiations.
Online fraud operations in Southeast Asia have surged dramatically over the past few years, with many victims lured or forced to work in tightly controlled scam centers that employ violence. United Nations data indicates these cybercrimes generate billions of dollars annually for transnational criminal syndicates, using personal relationship scams or fake investment opportunities to deceive victims worldwide.
South Korean officials estimate that scam centers in Cambodia employ about 200,000 workers, including roughly 1,000 South Koreans. Last month, 64 South Koreans were repatriated on a charter flight after being arrested by Cambodian police, with over 50 charged for participating in online fraud activities.
Cho Hyun’s visit follows last month’s trip by Kim Jin-a, South Korea’s Deputy Foreign Minister, and a parliamentary delegation, reflecting the diplomatic pressure South Korea is applying to eradicate online fraud operations in the region.
/sourceAP