(TAP) - Cambodian authorities have announced the deportation of 73 South Korean nationals linked to a transnational fraud ring that swindled 48.6 billion won from 869 victims. South Korean officials confirmed this as the country’s largest-ever mass repatriation of criminal suspects.
According to information released on January 23 by Cambodia’s Ministry of Information, as part of efforts to implement multiple measures to crack down on cross-border crime and combat cybercrime, the Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to deport 73 South Korean nationals back to their home country to continue relevant legal procedures. The General Department of Immigration under Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior stated that the group includes criminal suspects as well as victims who had previously been detained by authorities. This is not the first time Cambodia has deported South Korean nationals; in 2025, Cambodia handed over 244 South Koreans to their home country.
South Korean authorities also announced that a flight carrying the 73 suspects from Cambodia landed at Incheon International Airport on January 23. At a press briefing on January 22, Kang Yoo-Jung, spokesperson for the South Korean Presidential Office, stated that the group consists of 65 men and 8 women, mostly in their 20s and 30s. Of these, 70 individuals were involved in online fraud activities such as romance scams and investment scams, while the remaining three face charges of robbery, hostage-taking, and gambling offenses.
Kang further confirmed that all 73 suspects are linked to a fraud syndicate that defrauded 869 South Korean victims of a total of 48.6 billion won (more than 33 million USD). The investigation was conducted by a joint task force comprising Cambodian and South Korean police in coordination with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. In December 2025, the task force raided seven scam compounds across Cambodia, including in Sihanoukville, Poipet, and Mondulkiri, leading to the arrests of the suspects.
This is a record-breaking repatriation of South Korean criminal suspects, surpassing the previous record of 64 citizens returned in October 2025. According to a message posted on Facebook by Justice Minister Jung Sungho, since May 2025 the South Korean government had engaged in multiple rounds of negotiations to persuade Cambodian authorities to send the suspects back home. All individuals will be handed over to investigative agencies for questioning and are expected to face strict prosecution. At the same time, the South Korean government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining close cooperation with Cambodia until transnational fraud networks are completely eradicated.
Mie Duong