The Korean government\’s Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force successfully apprehended 26 members of a scam ring operating in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, since February last year. These criminals impersonated official institutions and targeted women, committing sexual exploitation crimes that shocked the public. The perpetrators isolated victims in hotels, cutting off outside contact through sophisticated methods. The operation was a joint effort between Cambodia\’s Korea Task Force and the National Intelligence Service, culminating in a raid on January 5, 2026.
The arrested group impersonated prosecutors and financial regulators, deceiving 165 Korean nationals and stealing over ₩26.7 billion. Many female victims residing in Korea were rendered helpless through persistent deception, forced to send money, and coerced into filming or sending sexual exploitation videos and photos. The criminals tricked victims into believing they were involved in crimes, leading them to self-confine in hotels. This resulted in severe psychological and financial harm to the victims.
Following the arrests, the government pledged immediate blocking of sexual exploitation videos and thorough investigation of all criminal allegations. The perpetrators will be swiftly extradited to Korea for prosecution. For female victims, the Ministry of Justice\’s Smile Center and related agencies will provide treatment and measures to prevent recurrence. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung emphasized the government\’s strict stance against transnational crimes, including digital sexual offenses.
Looking ahead, the government will intensify its transnational crime response under President Lee Jae-myung\’s directive. Any crime harming Korean citizens will face severe consequences. This case highlights the evolution of scam crimes from financial loss to serious social issues like sexual exploitation. Rapid government action and enhanced victim protection policies are expected to continue.
This Cambodia scam ring bust demonstrates the increasing sophistication and digitalization of transnational crimes. Korea’s swift international cooperation and victim support measures set a benchmark for global crime response. Addressing secondary harms like sexual exploitation requires multi-layered strategies, and ongoing enhancement of digital crime prevention and victim assistance is essential. The case warns of advanced criminal tactics enabled by technology, underscoring the need for strengthened international collaboration and domestic response systems to build robust social safety nets.