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successfully arrested 26 scam gang members operating in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, since February last year. These criminals impersonated agencies such as the prosecution and Financial Supervisory Service, deceiving victims into believing they were involved in crimes and confining them in hotels to cut off outside contact. The gang targeted women for sexual exploitation, causing significant social shock. The arrests were made after the \\\
in Cambodia and the National Intelligence Service identified four key locations and conducted a joint raid with local police on January 5.
The organization defrauded 165 Korean nationals of a total of KRW 26.7 billion under the guise of property investigations, after isolating them from outside contact. Many female victims residing in Korea were persistently deceived, rendered unable to resist, and forced to send money and sexual exploitation videos or photos. The suspects were apprehended in their office, with related images released by the Blue House. This case highlights the evolution and severity of digital crimes.
Blue House spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong stated that scam crimes have evolved beyond asset theft, now exploiting psychological vulnerabilities to destroy victims\\’ lives through sexual exploitation videos. The government has taken immediate action to block such videos and is thoroughly investigating all allegations. The perpetrators will be swiftly extradited to Korea for prosecution, and female victims will receive practical support and treatment through agencies like the Ministry of Justice\\’s Smile Center. Kang emphasized the government\\’s commitment to strict measures against transnational and digital sex crimes.
Going forward, the government will respond firmly to transnational crimes, including digital sex offenses, as directed by President Lee Jae-myung. The authorities have made it clear that those who harm Korean citizens will face severe consequences. This incident underscores the importance of international cooperation and the need to strengthen digital crime response systems. Victim support and prevention measures are now critical tasks, and the government\\’s swift response is expected to help restore public trust.