South Korea is moving forward to resolve the issue of its citizens being deceived into call center scams, advising against travel to Cambodia and preparing to establish a 'Korean Desk' to deploy police officers there.
Foreign news agencies report. South Korea plans to establish 'Korean Desk' 'Korean Desk' or a special police unit stationed at Cambodian police stations to assist in handling cases involving South Korean nationals. This is among measures addressing the rising problem of South Koreans being tricked into working as scammers in Cambodia.
Data from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows that from January to August 2025, over 330 South Korean citizens were deceived into working as scammers and held involuntarily in Cambodia, a sharp increase from 17 cases in 2022 and 220 in 2024.
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning advising citizens to be cautious of overseas job offers promising high pay and paid airfare. They urged verifying legitimacy with local authorities before signing any contracts, especially if they do not fully understand the terms.
A major case broke on 8 August 2025. Mr. Park a 22-year-old South Korean student, was found dead in Kampot province, Cambodia, three weeks after informing his parents he would attend a job expo there. He was deceived into working at a call center, had his phone and passport confiscated, and his family was extorted for 50 million won (about 1.2 million baht). Police advised the family not to pay the ransom and coordinated with the South Korean embassy in Cambodia, but officials could not locate him.
Subsequent investigations revealed Mr. Park was taken to a scammer center in Kampot, a stronghold for over 20 Chinese criminal gangs, where more than 20,000 victims were held. He was severely tortured. His death certificate cited acute heart failure caused by torture.
In the same month, Cambodian police arrested three Chinese suspects and launched investigations, also rescuing 14 South Koreans detained in the same building. Nearly two months later, Mr. Park's family has yet to receive his body, as Cambodian police claim the autopsy is incomplete.
In early October, Cambodian police rescued two South Koreans in Sihanoukville who reported being deceived into scam work, subjected to threats, and physical abuse.
These incidents prompted South Korean authorities to elevate their response. A special travel advisory for travel to Phnom Penh was issued effective from 10 October.
On the night of 11 October, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung pledged to strengthen citizen protection, ordering all relevant agencies to fully commit diplomatic efforts to safeguard South Koreans from crime in Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Joe Yong-sul, spokesperson for the People Power Party (PPP) of South Korea, the main opposition party, called on the government to take full action to resolve the abduction problem of South Koreans. He suggested that instead of relying solely on diplomacy, South Korea should deploy police to the field, cooperate with Interpol, and local authorities.
On 13 October, Yoo Jae-sung, acting commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), revealed that cooperation between Korean and Cambodian police has been 'somewhat uncooperative'. compared to other countries.
Yoo stated that the KNPA urgently sought cooperation for investigations, including requests to participate in the autopsy of the deceased student and to access related documents. However, Cambodia responded that such requests must proceed through official international legal cooperation channels, a lengthy process requiring formal approval by the justice ministries of both countries.
Yoo added that effective coordination is difficult without cooperation from the other side, but the KNPA will push forward fully via visits, international channels, and diplomatic pressure.
"If there is a way to exert pressure through organizations such as Interpol, we will pursue it," he said.
The KNPA plans to propose the establishment of 'Korean Desk' or a special Korean police unit stationed in Cambodian police stations to assist with South Korean cases. This proposal will be discussed with senior Cambodian police officials at a bilateral meeting on 23 October.
Also on 13 October, Cambodian authorities filed murder charges against three Chinese gang members linked to the death of the student, who had been previously arrested.
As of 14 October, South Korea's Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Unification plans a fact-finding mission to Cambodia next week, scheduling discussions at the South Korean embassy in Phnom Penh on 22 October to monitor scams and other crimes targeting Koreans.
Sources:straitstimes, koreaherald, straitstimes, koreajoongangdaily