The government is pushing a plan to bring back to Korea the criminal proceeds that a Cambodian crime organization earned by targeting Korean nationals.
According to relevant ministries on Oct. 19, the Ministry of Justice is seeking specific recovery methods through consultations with the Cambodian government.
Under the approach under review, the Ministry of Justice would, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ask the Cambodian side to identify victims and the amounts of damage; the Cambodian authorities would then conduct investigations and recovery procedures and remit the funds to Korea.
The government plans to first request investigations from the Cambodian side for Cambodia-related criminal cases that are under investigation and trial in Korea. If convictions are finalized, it will designate the amounts of damage as subject to recovery and request them.
Under the treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, if the victims are in Korea and the amounts of damage are identified, recovery of criminal proceeds can be requested even if the crimes occurred overseas. Korea signed this treaty with Cambodia in 2019, and it took effect in 2021.