AKP Phnom Penh, October 23, 2025 -- A parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Korea has determined that no Korean nationals were being forcibly detained or compelled to work at a major online scam operation in Cambodia, following an on-site inspection and review of evidence.

The delegation, which included opposition party member H.E. Kim Seok-Ki and lawmakers from the ruling party, conducted the inspection on Oct. 22, 2025. The visit was coordinated with Cambodian law enforcement authorities at a six-story building suspected of housing a transnational scam operation in Prey Popel village, Sangkat Samrong Krom, Khan Pursenchey, Phnom Penh.

The operation, executed by Cambodian mixed police forces, led to the arrest of 86 foreign nationals, including 57 Koreans (55 men, 2 women) and 29 Chinese (26 men, 3 women). Authorities also confiscated significant evidence, including 126 computers and 30 mobile phones.

Specialised officers from the Phnom Penh Municipal Police presented the Korean delegation with a comprehensive briefing. This included a detailed walkthrough of the enforcement operation, forensic analysis results from the seized electronic devices, and a demonstration of the crime scene.

After personally reviewing the findings and observing the site, the Korean lawmakers reached a clear conclusion: the Korean nationals involved had voluntarily participated in the illegal online activities, dispelling suspicions of forced detention or involuntary servitude.

The Korean delegation specifically requested continued cooperation from Cambodian authorities in both cracking down on transnational online scams and providing necessary assistance to Korean citizens who have been victimised or deceived into such operations.

H.E. Kim Seok-Ki stated that he plans to publicly announce the findings upon his return to Korea to "prevent misunderstandings" regarding Cambodia's role in the online scam issue. 

He reaffirmed his personal commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Kingdom in the ongoing fight against cyber and online fraud crimes.

By K. Rithy Reak