Dec 4, 2025 – South Korea lowers its travel advisory for Phnom Penh to Level 2 and downgrades Siem Reap and other regions to Level 1, citing the recent crackdown on online‑scam operations that has reduced incidents. The Bokor Mountain area, Bavet, Poipet and Sihanoukville remain under bans because of ongoing risks. The adjustment follows the establishment of a joint Korea‑Cambodia police unit after the August 2025 death of a Korean student in a Cambodian scam centre [19].

Dec 9, 2025 – A court in Hongseong begins trial of 46 suspects linked to a transnational voice‑phishing network operating in Cambodia and Thailand. The defendants face charges ranging from romance scams to cryptocurrency fraud that allegedly stole about 9.4 billion won from 110 victims between June 2024 and July 2025. Sixty‑four other suspects have already been repatriated to South Korea under police custody [18].

Dec 10, 2025 – Cambodian and South Korean forces raid a criminal complex in Sihanoukville, detaining 51 South Korean nationals and rescuing a 20‑year‑old man who had been confined and tortured. The joint operation involves the National Police Agency, the National Intelligence Service and roughly 100 Cambodian commandos, underscoring Seoul’s intensified response after the August 2025 student death [17].

Dec 21, 2025 – A joint raid in Mondulkiri province detains 26 South Koreans at a scam centre and frees a young man who had been held captive. President Lee Jae Myung praises the officers, saying he “appreciates their dedication in dangerous conditions” and pledges broader international cooperation to eradicate such crimes [16].

Jan 5, 2026 – A combined Korean‑Cambodian task force raids offices and residences in Phnom Penh, arresting 26 members of a sexual‑exploitation ring that forced female victims to produce explicit content and extorted 26.7 billion won from 165 South Korean nationals. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu‑jung announces that the government will block the videos and repatriate the suspects, highlighting the crackdown that intensified after the August 2025 student death [14].

Jan 8, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung orders “stern measures” against transnational crimes targeting South Korean nationals, calling such offenses “malicious” and capable of sparking diplomatic friction. He directs senior aides to cooperate with foreign partners to seize overseas proceeds and to support AI‑related policy measures [11].

Jan 9, 2026 – Cambodian authorities extradite Chinese tycoon Chen Zhi, identified by U.S. and U.K. officials as the leader of a vast online‑scam enterprise that traffics workers and defrauds victims worldwide. The extradition marks a rare coordinated effort to dismantle a transnational criminal network that has operated across borders for years [2].

Jan 12, 2026 – South Korean officials confirm the January 5 arrests of the 26‑person sexual‑exploitation ring, reiterating plans to block the exploitative videos and to bring the suspects back to Korea for prosecution. The operation reflects Seoul’s “heightened crackdown” following the August 2025 student death [14].

Jan 22, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung tells senior aides that transnational cybercrimes “erode mutual trust and trigger diplomatic disputes,” urging a strong stance against scams that target Koreans abroad. He emphasizes that action is needed whether crimes occur at home or overseas and calls for close cooperation to seize hidden assets [1].

Jan 22, 2026 – The Blue House announces that 73 South Korean nationals detained in Cambodia will be forcibly repatriated on a chartered flight departing at 8:45 p.m. and arriving at Incheon at 9:10 a.m. the next day. Arrest warrants have been issued for all detainees, and the government plans to confiscate any criminal proceeds [12].

Jan 23, 2026 – A Korean Air charter lands at Incheon International Airport with 73 repatriated suspects, marking South Korea’s largest single‑country return of criminal suspects. The group faces custody and detention extensions as they are transferred to local police stations for investigation. Authorities note that most are men in their 20s‑30s and that the crackdown involved raids on seven scam compounds in Sihanoukville, Poipet and Mondulkiri [6].

Jan 24, 2026 – South Korean police submit arrest warrants for all 73 repatriated suspects, aiming to prosecute their alleged involvement in online scams that swindled a total of 48.6 billion won from 869 victims. The warrants cover charges ranging from deep‑fake romance fraud to robbery‑by‑hostage and gambling offenses [5].

Jan 25, 2026 – Prosecutors request arrest warrants for 72 of the 73 returnees, excluding one individual whose alleged offenses are deemed minor. The filing follows the January 23 repatriation and prepares for hearings on “no‑show” and romance‑scam cases scheduled for the coming weekend [4].

Jan 26, 2026 – Courts issue arrest warrants for 55 of the 73 repatriated suspects, confirming that 72 warrants were sought and one suspect was excluded for low‑level offenses. The arrested individuals are accused of defrauding 869 victims of 48.6 billion won, including a deep‑fake romance couple who stole 12 billion won from 104 people. The hearings in South Chungcheong aim to secure detention orders for the remaining returnees [3].