S. Korea dispatches joint response team to Cambodia amid rising scam crimes

A South Korean government response team has been dispatched to Cambodia to address a significant surge in crimes targeting Korean nationals, including kidnapping, detention, and employment scams. This team, comprising representatives from key ministries and intelligence services, aims to discuss repatriation of detained individuals and explore proactive solutions with Cambodian authorities.

The deployment follows a sharp increase in reported incidents, escalating from one case in 2022 to 3330 cases from January to August of the current year. A joint Korea-Cambodia task force on scam crimes has also been established, with plans to create a dedicated Korea desk within the Cambodian police force. Additionally, certain areas in Cambodia will be subject to the highest level of travel ban, with potential penalties for those who disregard the warning.

• A joint response team from the South Korean government has been sent to Cambodia to address crimes affecting Korean nationals.
• The number of reported cases of detention and missing persons involving Korean nationals has drastically increased.
• Cases rose from 1 in 2022 to 220 last year, and 3330 from January to August this year.
• A joint Korea-Cambodia task force on scam crimes has been launched, aiming for swift rescue of victims and action against perpetrators.
• Certain areas in Cambodia are under the highest level four travel ban due to these risks.

Related Video Summary

• S. Korean gov't to dispatch joint response team to Cambodia amid rising scam crimes

Joint Response Team Dispatched to Cambodia [00:00]

• A joint response team organized by the South Korean government has departed for Cambodia.
• The team's purpose is to address crimes involving Korean nationals in Cambodia and facilitate the return of detained Koreans.
• It is led by the second vice minister of foreign affairs and includes members from the National Police Agency, Justice Ministry, and National Intelligence Service.
• The team will engage with the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, and an online scam response committee to discuss solutions.

This team's mission is to tackle the growing issue of crimes like kidnapping, detention, and employment scams targeting South Korean citizens in Cambodia, seeking to secure their repatriation and implement preventative measures.

"The team led by the second vice minister of foreign affairs, Kim Jina, involves relevant ministries including the National Police Agency, Justice Ministry, and National Intelligence Service, and is expected to be discussing the swift repatriation of detained Korean nationals in Cambodia."

Rising Cases of Crimes Against Korean Nationals [01:08]

• The dispatch of the response team comes as crime incidents involving Korean nationals in Cambodia have been on the rise.
• Reported cases of detention and missing persons have surged significantly.
• The number of cases increased from 1 in 2022 to 220 last year.
• From January to August of this year, the cases soared to 3330.

The escalating number of incidents, particularly those involving scams and detentions, has prompted the establishment of a dedicated task force to assess the situation and formulate specific measures for victims.

"The number of reported cases of detention and people going missing has surged from one in 2022 to 220 cases last year and soar to 3330 from just January to August this year."

Joint Task Force and Travel Bans [01:53]

• A joint Korea-Cambodia task force on scam crimes has been launched.
• The initiative aims to actively combat these crimes, discuss the establishment of a Korea desk within the Cambodian police force, and take firm action against offenders.
• The goal is to swiftly rescue any victims.
• Certain areas in Cambodia will be under a level four travel ban, the highest warning level.
• Those who visit these areas may face punishment under the passport act and other regulations.
• Due to the vacant ambassador role in Cambodia, the former ambassador to Lebanon will be dispatched to oversee the local situation.

This multifaceted approach includes collaborative efforts with Cambodian authorities and strict travel advisories to protect Korean nationals from ongoing criminal activities.

"We intend to run this actively and discuss the establishment of a Korea desk within the Cambodia police force. We aim to take firm action against those who commit crimes and swiftly rescue any victims."