Seoul: Thousands of South Koreans who traveled to Cambodia have not returned home in recent years, according to a lawmaker citing government data. The increasing number of missing nationals is believed to be linked to their involvement in scam centers operating in the Southeast Asian country.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the difference in the number of South Koreans who departed for Cambodia and those who returned home was 3,209 in 2022, 2,662 in 2023, and 3,248 in 2024, based on justice ministry data submitted to Rep. Park Chan-dae of the Democratic Party. These figures represent a significant increase from just 113 missing in 2021.
The substantial number of South Koreans who have not returned raises concerns about the actual number of nationals involved in scam operations in Cambodia, potentially exceeding the government's estimate of around 1,000. Between January and August this year, 67,609 South Koreans traveled to Cambodia, while only 66,745 returned, leaving a discrepancy of 864 people. The figures may be higher when accounting for those who entered Cambodia via a third country.
Data from Cambodia's immigration agency indicated that 192,305 South Koreans entered the country last year, nearly double the 100,820 who departed from Korea, according to South Korean data. An acquaintance of a worker at a criminal complex in Cambodia informed Yonhap News Agency that there are at least 2,000 to 3,000 South Koreans involved in scam operations in the country. Some individuals reportedly smuggle themselves into Cambodia through China.
Another individual who claimed to have worked at a criminal complex stated there were approximately 50 South Koreans at the facility. "Some of them earned money and went to another region to start a new company," the 20-something man disclosed.
In a tragic incident in August, a South Korean college student was tortured to death in Cambodia after being deceived by a job scam, sparking public concern over crimes targeting nationals in the country. Rep. Park emphasized the need for reevaluating data on those who do not return home, urging the government to compare individual entry and exit records with consular and police records to address the issue.
Recently, 64 South Koreans detained in Cambodia over alleged online scams were repatriated to their home country on a chartered flight, under police custody.