Phnom penh: A chartered plane carrying around 60 South Koreans, who were detained in Cambodia due to their involvement in online scam operations, has departed for Incheon. This move comes amidst increasing concerns regarding criminal organizations that are targeting South Korean nationals in the Southeast Asian nation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the plane took off from Techo International Airport, located near Phnom Penh, and is heading to Incheon International Airport, situated west of Seoul. This flight follows the dispatch of a South Korean government response team to Cambodia, aimed at assisting nationals who were implicated in these online scams orchestrated by local crime syndicates.

The issue gained significant attention after the recent report of a South Korean college student who was tortured and killed in Cambodia in August. The student had been lured to the country a month prior by a fraudulent job offer. This tragic incident has shed light on the increasing number of South Koreans being en
ticed to Cambodia with promises of high-paying jobs, only to find themselves coerced into participating in online scams under the threat of violence and confinement by crime rings.

Most of the individuals returning to South Korea are now facing criminal charges for their roles in these scams. As National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac stated on Friday, detention warrants have been issued for many of them, and some are even under Interpol Red Notices. The flight also carried police officers, who outnumbered the returnees, to escort them back. Upon arrival in South Korea, these individuals will be arrested and taken to police stations for further investigation.

The returnees were apprehended by Cambodian immigration authorities on suspicion of criminal activity. In response to the situation, South Korea is advocating for the establishment of a dedicated police unit in Cambodia, referred to as a “Korean desk,” to specifically address and apprehend South Koreans involved in similar criminal activities.

Wi mentio
ned that South Korea might consider sending another chartered plane if a substantial number of South Koreans are apprehended in Cambodia in the future. Earlier this week, a foreign ministry official reported that approximately 80 South Koreans connected to job scams in Cambodia remain missing or their safety is unconfirmed.