South Korean authorities repatriated 73 people suspected of participating in online fraud schemes operated in Cambodia, officials announced. The suspects, identified as members of several scam groups, were brought back to South Korea for interrogation concerning allegations that they defrauded more than 800 South Koreans of around $33 million.
The group, reportedly the largest number of scam suspects returned from abroad to date, arrived Friday at Incheon International Airport. Broadcast footage showed suspects wearing face masks, predominantly dressed in shorts and sandals, under police escort from the plane to a bus.
A South Korean police representative emphasized at a media briefing that committing crimes abroad would not shield perpetrators from accountability. "If you think committing a crime outside the country will allow you to evade punishment, that is a mistake," the official stated. "We will diligently pursue offenders who harm our citizens and hold them responsible."
At the same briefing, a foreign ministry official indicated ongoing collaboration with Cambodian authorities, affirming South Korea’s commitment to eradicating cross-border scam activities. The repatriation follows a coordinated investigation conducted jointly by officials from both countries.
Kang Yu-jung, a spokesperson from the Korean presidential office, provided additional details during a separate press briefing Thursday. Investigations uncovered seven scam centers in Cambodia, where it is alleged that 869 South Koreans were defrauded of an estimated 49 billion won (approximately $33 million).
Among the suspects is a couple accused of employing deepfake technology in romance scams, extorting roughly 12 billion won from 104 victims. The couple reportedly underwent plastic surgery to evade detection by law enforcement.
Another individual faces allegations of defrauding retirees and entry-level employees out of about 19.4 billion won by impersonating a professional investor.
At the time of reporting, Cambodian officials had not provided comments on the matter.
This event follows the return of 64 South Koreans in October, linked to scams and a high-profile case involving the alleged murder and torture of a South Korean college student in Cambodia related to an employment scam.