On October 17, 2025, the government of Cambodia, in close coordination with South Korean authorities, handed over 59 South Korean citizens to their home country. These individuals, including women, had either been rescued or detained for various legal violations, according to a statement from the Cambodian National Police. The handover, conducted with the assistance of the South Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh, marks the latest chapter in an ongoing effort to address the complex and troubling issue of missing South Korean nationals and the surge of online fraud crimes in Cambodia.
The urgency of the situation has become increasingly apparent in recent months. As reported by the Khmer Times and Korea Times, about 80 South Korean citizens remain unaccounted for in Cambodia as of August 2025, with a total of 330 missing persons reports submitted to the South Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh. Authorities in Cambodia have received official requests for information regarding 118 missing South Koreans this year alone. Of these, 40 have been confirmed to have left Cambodia, 2 have no entry or exit records in the immigration system, and the remaining 76 cases are under active investigation.
The situation has drawn high-level attention from both governments. A South Korean emergency response team, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Ji Na, arrived in Phnom Penh to coordinate with Cambodian officials on the growing threat of online fraud and human trafficking. During her visit, Kim Ji Na toured a barbed-wire-enclosed property in Takeo Province, a stark reminder of the grim realities facing many victims. The Deputy Minister's trip followed a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss ways to ramp up bilateral cooperation against the so-called "high salary job" scams, which have ensnared numerous South Korean citizens.
According to Korea Herald, these scams often lure victims with promises of easy, lucrative work. Once in Cambodia, many are coerced or forced into participating in online fraud operations or other criminal activities. The issue has become so severe that South Korea's Deputy Ambassador Kim Sang Jin raised it before the United Nations General Assembly's Third Committee on October 16. "Today, I want to highlight the issue of human trafficking and call on member states and UN human rights mechanisms, including this committee, to continue addressing the grave and persistent threat of human trafficking," Kim stated. He emphasized that ignoring the problem would be "shirking our shared responsibility, leading to lifelong harm, disappearance, and even death for countless victims."
The outcry in South Korea reached a fever pitch following the tragic murder of Park Min-ho, a young student whose body was discovered in August after he was kidnapped and tortured to death at an online fraud compound in Kampot Province's Bokor Mountain area. Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his condolences to South Korean officials and pledged to intensify Cambodia's crackdown on online fraud and related crimes. "Cambodia and South Korea have the capacity and means to cooperate bilaterally to resolve these issues without third-party involvement," Hun Manet asserted, underscoring the countries' determination to tackle the crisis head-on.
The scale of the problem is daunting. South Korea estimates that approximately 1,000 of its citizens are currently involved—willingly or unwillingly—in online fraud activities in Cambodia, out of a total of around 200,000 workers. At the same time, Cambodian authorities have received 52 requests for assistance related to 60 South Korean nationals in 2025. Of these, 35 cases involving 40 individuals have been resolved, while 3 cases involving 5 people remain under investigation. Seoul has also confirmed that two South Korean citizens returned home after being detained by Cambodian authorities during a recent crackdown, and the government is working to repatriate 63 more who are currently in custody.
The rise of online fraud centers is not unique to Cambodia, but the country has emerged as a regional hotspot. The United Nations estimates that such operations have proliferated across Southeast Asia since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, generating billions of dollars annually and targeting victims worldwide through sophisticated phone and internet scams. These criminal enterprises often exploit vulnerable individuals, including foreign workers, by trapping them in a cycle of debt, coercion, and violence.
Recognizing the transnational nature of the problem, both Cambodia and South Korea have taken steps to strengthen their legal and institutional frameworks. Cambodia has established an online fraud prevention committee led by senior government officials, signaling a renewed commitment to protecting citizens and maintaining a healthy business environment. Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration has redoubled efforts to warn citizens about fraudulent job offers and to provide support for those who fall victim to trafficking and forced labor.
Information sharing and joint investigations are at the heart of the two countries' strategy. Cambodian and South Korean police forces have been working together to track missing persons, dismantle criminal networks, and prosecute offenders. Both governments have also launched public awareness campaigns to educate their citizens about the dangers and tactics of online fraud. These initiatives target a wide range of audiences, from students and job seekers to migrant workers and businesspeople, aiming to equip them with the knowledge needed to avoid becoming victims.
Legal reforms are also underway. Cambodia and South Korea are reviewing and tightening their laws to ensure harsher penalties for those involved in trafficking and online fraud. By building a more robust legal framework, the two governments hope to deter would-be criminals and facilitate more effective cross-border prosecutions.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. The criminal networks behind online fraud and trafficking are highly adaptable, often shifting operations to evade law enforcement. Victims, sometimes lured by desperation or misinformation, may be reluctant to come forward, complicating rescue and repatriation efforts. Both governments acknowledge that sustained vigilance, international cooperation, and community engagement will be essential to making lasting progress.
The tragedy of Park Min-ho and the plight of hundreds of missing South Koreans serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of these crimes. As Cambodia and South Korea deepen their partnership and refine their strategies, the hope is that future headlines will tell stories not of loss and exploitation, but of safety, justice, and renewed trust between nations.
