Wi Sung-lac, head of the Office of National Security, said on the 15th regarding Koreans involved in Cambodia's scam (fraud) industry, "It is not easy to approach this by drawing a binary line between victims and criminal conspirators," adding, "What the government can do is first bring everyone back to Korea quickly and conduct a proper investigation." He said that even for those who have already returned to Korea from the country, authorities must thoroughly investigate not only the damage but also whether they were involved in crimes.
Deputy Minister Wi said at a press briefing that afternoon that the number of Koreans working in Cambodian scam organizations is estimated at about 1,000, adding, "We are prioritizing the prompt repatriation of more than 60 Korean nationals suspected of crimes who were arrested in Cambodia during (authorities') crackdowns. We are working to ensure repatriation by this weekend." He also said, "Above all, it is essential to prevent people from being lured by so-called 'high-paying jobs' and going to Cambodia of their own accord," adding, "At the pan-government level, we will actively work for strict punishment and prevention."
He stressed that this situation is "a very complex issue reflecting multiple aspects," and said that the most urgent task is to repatriate those involved in the case. Deputy Minister Wi said, "Some people voluntarily took part in crimes and then found something was not right and wanted to come back, but they sometimes cannot return voluntarily," adding, "In that sense, they are victims in some ways, but they are also criminals. They are legally subject to punishment." He went on, "If someone went purely not knowing it was a crime, they could be classified as a victim, but someone could be both a victim and a criminal."
Deputy Minister Wi said, "We need to determine whether (even those already rescued) are suspected of involvement in crimes," adding, "We must not miss this because we may identify additional targets who can be arrested or rescued. This is not a matter where we can just tell them to go home." He also said, "This is a very serious matter, and if they are suspected, they may have taken part in crimes," adding, "It may not have been entirely voluntary, but if it was voluntary, it is a crime."
The government has already prepared flights for repatriation. The joint task force for responding to scams, to be formed by agreement between the two governments, will include 20 participants from Cambodia and 4 from Korea. Deputy Minister Wi, referring to Chinese crime groups leading Cambodia's scam industry, said, "According to recent U.S. and U.K. statistics, those countries are imposing sanctions on the relevant corporations and Chinese-affiliated corporations," adding, "The Chinese government is also taking this issue seriously and responding. Korea and China are deepening police cooperation, and there have been consultations and some progress."