Two South Koreans, one with a disability, were rescued in separate operations in Cambodia after being held captive in scam-related incidents. The first victim, a man in his 30s, traveled to Cambodia through Vietnam for a job opportunity but ended up being held in a hotel in Sihanoukville. He faced abuse and threats until his rescue on May 7. South Korean authorities are investigating the brokers who deceived him with a fake job posting.
In a separate incident, a South Korean woman in her 20s traveled to Cambodia to meet a man she knew online but was later confined and threatened for ransom. The Korean Desk, a joint task force, conducted an operation in Phnom Penh, rescuing her and apprehending the suspect. The head of the International Cooperation Bureau at the Korean National Police Agency warned about the prevalence of such scams in Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia and advised caution.
South Korea and Cambodia established a joint team last year to address crimes involving South Koreans in Cambodia following a previous incident where a Korean student died due to a job scam. The collaboration aims to combat cases of kidnapping and unlawful confinement disguised as overseas job opportunities, emphasizing the need for vigilance in such situations.
