Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Oct 16 (AP)— In an effort to tackle the burgeoning issue of online scams, South Korean and Cambodian officials convened on Thursday in Phnom Penh. The discussions follow the tragic death of a South Korean student, Park Min-ho, reportedly trafficked and forced into working at a scam center in Cambodia.
A South Korean delegation participated in meetings with senior Cambodian officials, including Prime Minister Hun Manet, to address the issue. The growing online scam industry in Cambodia has sparked outrage in South Korea. It's estimated that around 200,000 individuals, including approximately 1,000 South Koreans, are involved in these operations within Cambodia.
The grim discovery of 22-year-old Park Min-ho's body in a pickup truck in the Kampot province in August, after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest induced by torture and beatings, brought international attention to the issue. South Korea's National Security Director, Wi Sung-lac, stated that his country seeks the repatriation of its nationals implicated in these scams, alongside the return of Park's remains.
There have been complexities regarding the return of Park's body, particularly surrounding requests for a joint autopsy by South Korean and Cambodian pathologists. Wi announced that the matter was resolved, with details to be disclosed later on Thursday.
While the specific routes through which those 1,000 South Koreans found themselves working at scam sites in Cambodia remain vague, South Korean authorities believe many were deceived by false promises of lucrative jobs. Some, however, may have initially relocated voluntarily.
Wi revealed that in just the first eight months of this year, reports surfaced of 330 South Koreans being detained in Cambodia, predominately based on accounts from the victims and their families. He claimed that 80% of those cases have been addressed.
At the Thursday meeting, both nations pledged cooperative efforts to counteract transnational crimes, focusing on online scams. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed on Telegram, “Cambodia and the Republic of Korea will continue strengthening our collaboration to efficiently combat these scams, aiding peace, public order, and security.”
Recognizing the limitations of addressing international scams centered abroad solely, Wi emphasized that South Korea is prepared to deploy "all available methods" for the safety and protection of its citizens while working with Cambodia and other nations.
Prime Minister Hun Manet insisted that Cambodia does not require external intervention to combat these issues, suggesting a bilateral resolution with South Korea.
Wi confirmed South Korean efforts to expedite the return of 60 nationals recently arrested in Cambodia on suspicions of scam involvement, with investigations and potential legal repercussions awaiting back in South Korea.
He pledged ongoing efforts to locate and safely return missing South Koreans, potentially being held at scam centers against their will.
Coinciding with these discussions, South Korea has implemented a travel ban to specific Cambodian regions, including Bokor Mountain and towns like Bavet and Poipet, in response to the recent incidents.
The United Nations and other organizations consider Southeast Asia a critical global hub for online scam operations, generating enormous profits for international criminal networks through deceitful schemes targeting unsuspecting global victims.
Jeremy Douglas, once regional representative for Southeast Asia at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, notes that the Mekong border regions, encompassing parts of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, serve as prime locations for scams and illicit activities. “The favorable conditions and lack of resistance in these areas attract criminals,” Douglas remarked, emphasizing the need for a cohesive regional strategy. “Ignoring this growing issue is not an option," he concluded. (AP)
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