On March 1, 2025, the popular South Korean investigative program "그것이 알고 싶다" (I Want to Know That) aired an alarming exposé highlighting the troubling realities faced by South Korean youth trapped within the notorious crime syndicates operating out of Cambodia. Namely, the episode focused on horrifying instances of human trafficking, torture, and forced labor carried out against these individuals.
At the center of the episode was the case of 26-year-old Kim Min-seong (pseudonym), who made headlines after escaping captivity from a crime organization named "Wench". His harrowing story began when he traveled to Cambodia under the pretense of settling debts incurred from loans. Kim’s father received distressing messages from his son, who was threatened with being sold if he failed to send money home.
Kim Min-seong reached out to the program's producers, recounting his imprisonment where he endured torturous methods, including having his toenails plucked out and burns inflicted on him with lit cigarettes. He described how the crime ring operated from within fortified locations heavily guarded by sentinels, where heinous acts were not only commonplace but systematic. “You could hear about people dying without even knowing it,” he recalled, citing even the presence of incineration facilities for disposing of bodies.
Upon his dramatic escape, the show’s investigative team rushed to Cambodia to meet him with plans to gather more information on the elaborate crime networks at play. It was uncovered through various sources and personal interviews with victims and insiders, emphasizing the severity of the surrounding situation.
The episode revealed the existence of multiple crime zones throughout Cambodia, including urban areas like Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, with reports indicating hundreds of Korean youth being held captive. One insider indicated the alarming nature of these locations, stating, “It shouldn’t be hard to find evidence, just look around you.”
The vicious tactics also surfaced through Kim’s recollections of other youths held alongside him, including another couple and fellow captives who faced the same grim fate. The dire question posed was how these individuals found themselves at the mercy of traffickers and criminals?
Korean youth, drawn by the offer of quick financial relief or promises of employment, often become easy targets. This phenomenon has continued to spiral, driven by unscrupulous operators profiting from these vulnerable individuals. Kim’s prior debts were exacerbated by the coercion to remain indefinitely.
The program continued to touch on the lives of those still unaccounted for—the other individuals Kim encountered during his captivity. Reports indicate widespread paranoia within these crime areas as surviving victims cling to the hope of rescue, yet travel arrangements and connections have seemingly dissipated.
“We must amplify their voices so authorities and the global community recognize this as the humanitarian crisis it is,” said the program’s host during the episode. The focus remains on pushing for governmental accountability to rescue those still trapped and instill policies safeguarding the most at-risk individuals.
This exposé reflects increasing concerns surrounding the intersection of crime and the economics of despair, evident within the heartbreaking narratives spilled forth by Kim and other victims. The situation has become dire, and the codes of silence surrounding these crimes must be broken.