South Koreans detained for involvement in online scams in Cambodia are being repatriated through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 18th. Approximately 190 police escort personnel were deployed for this repatriation. Yonhap News. 

On the morning of the 18th, 64 South Koreans repatriated from Cambodia were dispersed to police stations nationwide immediately upon arrival, and investigations into them are set to begin in earnest.

These individuals hold a dual nature, being both victims confined in Cambodian criminal compounds and perpetrators who committed crimes such as phishing targeting South Koreans.

Of the 64 individuals, 59 were apprehended during Cambodian authorities' crackdown on scam compounds, while the remaining 5 surrendered themselves, were rescued from the compounds, but were later found to have criminal suspicion.

They will be dispersed to: ▲ 45 individuals to the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency ▲ 15 to the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency ▲ 1 to the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency ▲ 1 to the Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul ▲ 1 to the Gimpo Police Station under the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency ▲ 1 to the Wonju Police Station in Gangwon Province to be investigated for their victim status and criminal suspicions. Through these investigations, the police plan to uncover the reality of overseas voice phishing organizations, including those in Cambodia.

Park Sung-joo, head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, stated at a briefing held at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport shortly after their repatriation, "These are people who were all involved in romance scams and no-show scams."

He added, "They have not been investigated by South Korean authorities, and we are in the process of confirming additional criminal facts," and "There are many suspicions of drug use, so we plan to conduct basic drug tests on the repatriated individuals."

It remains to be determined by police investigation whether they were coerced into criminal activities after being kidnapped and confined, or if they actively participated with knowledge of the illegality.

There are also cases where individuals who voluntarily participated in crimes claim to be 'victims of confinement' after being apprehended by the police.

As all 64 repatriated individuals were suspects, some have expressed cynical reactions to this repatriation, stating, "They should have brought back victims, but they brought back perpetrators." There are also points being made that further operations are needed to find and repatriate kidnapping victims who may still be in Cambodia.

The police plan to continue cooperating with Cambodian authorities to find additional South Korean criminals and victims to be repatriated in the future.

Commissioner Park stated, "The Cambodian authorities have the will to continue investigating and cracking down on scam compounds," and "We have agreed that if a South Korean national is arrested, they will be promptly notified to us." He added, "Once notified, they will be repatriated according to legal procedures to face justice."

Furthermore, he mentioned that the South Korean police will actively assist with aspects requiring technology, such as mobile phone forensics, and stated, "We expect the exchange of evidence to proceed swiftly, allowing for smoother initial investigations."

Yonhap News