In a decisive move against transnational crime, South Korea will repatriate 73 of its nationals from Cambodia, all accused of orchestrating large-scale scams targeting Korean citizens. This operation, directed by President Lee Jae-myung and coordinated by the Special Task Force for Transnational Crime, comes after a lengthy investigation into criminal syndicates operating from Cambodia. The suspects are believed to have defrauded 869 Koreans, amassing approximately 48.6 billion KRW. The repatriation marks a significant milestone in South Korea’s efforts to combat overseas-based scam operations.
A chartered flight carrying the suspects is scheduled to depart Incheon Airport at 8:45 PM and return at 9:10 AM on Friday, January 23. This is the largest group of scam suspects ever repatriated to South Korea. The operation was made possible by the Korea Task Force, the National Intelligence Service, and local Cambodian police, who identified seven scam compounds. In December, authorities apprehended 51 members in Sihanoukville, 15 in Poipet, and 26 in Mondulkiri, demonstrating the scale and coordination of the crackdown.
Among those repatriated are members of the so-called ‘romance scam couple fraud ring,’ who previously evaded extradition in October. These suspects used deepfake technology to impersonate fictitious individuals, defrauding 104 victims of 12 billion KRW. Some suspects underwent plastic surgery to alter their appearance and evade capture. The group also includes fugitives who committed sexual crimes against minors, masterminds who targeted young professionals and retirees for 19.4 billion KRW, and individuals who held victims hostage to extort money from their families.
The government emphasized that leaving such major offenders abroad could signal tolerance for criminal escape and increase the risk of repeat offenses. All repatriated suspects have outstanding arrest warrants and will be handed over to investigative authorities upon arrival for thorough legal processing. Authorities also plan to track and confiscate hidden criminal assets. The Special Task Force for Transnational Crime will continue its strict response until all overseas scam operations targeting Korean citizens are eradicated.