The pan-government ‘Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force’ successfully arrested 26 scam gang members operating out of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, since February last year. These criminals impersonated national institutions such as the prosecution and financial regulators, deceiving victims into believing they were involved in crimes. The gang specifically targeted women, committing sexual exploitation crimes that have shocked society. The arrests were made possible through close cooperation between domestic and international agencies and thorough pre-operation intelligence gathering.
The gang used a ‘self-confinement’ method, forcing victims to stay in accommodations and cutting off outside contact. During this process, they defrauded 165 Korean nationals of a total of ₩26.7 billion. The suspects were apprehended in their office, with related photos released by the Blue House. The Cambodian ‘Korea Task Force’ and the National Intelligence Service identified four key locations, including offices and lodgings, and conducted a raid with local police on January 5.
Many female victims in Korea were subjected to ongoing deception and coercion, rendering them unable to resist. They suffered not only financial losses but were also forced to record sexual exploitation videos and send photos. Blue House spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong stated that scam crimes have evolved beyond asset theft to destroy victims’ lives by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities. The government is taking immediate action to block sexual exploitation videos, swiftly repatriate criminals, and provide treatment and prevention measures for victims.
Going forward, the government will continue to respond strictly to transnational crimes, including digital sex offenses, as directed by President Lee Jae-myung. Support for female victims will be strengthened through cooperation with agencies such as the Ministry of Justice’s Smile Center. This case highlights the importance of international cooperation and the need for robust digital crime countermeasures. The government reiterated its commitment to holding perpetrators of crimes against Korean citizens fully accountable.