As cases of Korean nationals being kidnapped and confined in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, have occurred in succession recently, police decided to run a special voluntary surrender and reporting period to block related crimes.
The National Office of Investigation of the Korean National Police Agency said on the 15th that it will operate an "overseas kidnapping and confinement suspicion and phishing crime special voluntary surrender and reporting period" for 11 weeks from the 16th to Dec. 31.
Eligible reports include not only cases where kidnapping and confinement damage has been confirmed, but also people who were lured overseas by "high-paying part-time jobs" and then lost contact, and cases where there is no clear criminal indication but the person's whereabouts are unknown after departure. During this special period, not only overseas call centers related to phishing crimes and money laundering operatives, but also lower-level operatives such as domestic cash and withdrawal couriers, and simple accomplices such as holders of bank accounts under borrowed names can turn themselves in.
Police plan to show leniency by applying the criminal law's reduction provisions for voluntary surrender when a person who turns themselves in provides information on accomplices or other members. They also plan to pay a reward of up to 500 million won to those who report organized crime and help with arrests.
In addition, all reports of overseas kidnapping and confinement received during the special period will be transferred to dedicated investigation teams at city and provincial police agencies.
Voluntary surrender, reports, and tips can be made through 112, city and provincial police agencies nationwide, or police stations, precincts, and substations. People can also turn themselves in through family or acquaintances. Those involved in the distribution and use of bank accounts under borrowed names used for voice phishing can also surrender through the Government Joint Investigation Team on Voice Phishing Crimes.
National Office of Investigation Commissioner Park Seong-ju of the Korean National Police Agency said, "Victims who lost all their assets to phishing crimes live in pain for the rest of their lives," and added, "Those who took part in the crimes should turn themselves in now and atone, and those around them should encourage them."