South Korean Authorities Arrest 55 of 73 Repatriated Scam Suspects After Largest Single‑Country Return
Updated (3 articles)
Massive Cambodia‑to‑Korea repatriation triggers coordinated legal action On January 23 2026, a chartered aircraft delivered 73 South Korean nationals accused of online fraud from Cambodia, marking the nation’s biggest single‑country repatriation of criminal suspects [1][2][3]. The return followed a high‑profile crackdown intensified after a Korean student’s death at a Cambodian scam center last August [3]. All detainees were taken to Incheon International Airport and handed over to the Korean National Police Agency for investigation [1][2][3].
Prosecutors and police file arrest warrants for nearly all returnees Prosecutors filed requests on January 25 for arrest warrants covering 72 of the 73 returnees, excluding one individual deemed a minor offender [2]. Police submitted warrants for all 73 suspects the day before, reflecting an aggressive prosecutorial stance [3]. By Monday morning, courts had issued arrest warrants for 55 suspects, who were taken into custody that same day [1].
Victims suffer $33 million loss across multiple fraud schemes Authorities allege the group swindled 869 South Korean victims of a combined 48.6 billion won (≈US $33 million) through impersonation, romance, and “no‑show” scams [1][2][3]. The 49 “no‑show” participants alone extracted 6.9 billion won by posing as civil servants, while a couple used deep‑fake video and audio to defraud 104 victims of 12 billion won [1][3]. Additional romance‑scam operators targeted about 30 victims for roughly 5 billion won [1].
Hearings scheduled as authorities seek detention orders for remaining suspects Fifty‑four “no‑show” participants, including the 49 identified above, are slated to appear at warrant hearings on Sunday, while 17 romance‑scam suspects face a Monday session in South Chungcheong [1][2]. Police intend to secure detention orders during these hearings, leaving 18 suspects without immediate arrest but still under investigation [1]. The legal process underscores a broader effort to dismantle transnational online fraud networks linked to Cambodia.
Sources (3 articles)
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[1]
Yonhap: 55 of 73 Cambodian‑Repatriated Scam Suspects Arrested in South Korea: Reports the arrest of 55 suspects, details the 48.6 billion won loss, and outlines upcoming hearings, emphasizing the rapid post‑repatriation crackdown .
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[2]
Yonhap: South Korean prosecutors seek arrest warrants for 72 repatriated scam suspects: Highlights prosecutors’ request for warrants covering 72 suspects, the chartered flight repatriation, and the breakdown of “no‑show” and romance‑scam hearings .
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[3]
Yonhap: South Korean Police Seek Warrants for 73 Repatriated Scam Suspects: Notes police filing warrants for all 73 returnees, mentions deep‑fake romance scams and three unrelated robbery‑by‑hostage cases, and links the operation to a student’s death that spurred the crackdown .
Timeline
August 2025 – The death of a Korean college student, who was lured to a Cambodian scam center and tortured, triggers a government‑wide crackdown on overseas fraud operations targeting South Koreans[3].
Jan 23, 2026 – A chartered aircraft lands at Incheon International Airport carrying 73 South Korean nationals returned from Cambodia, marking the nation’s largest single‑country repatriation of criminal suspects[2].
Jan 24, 2026 – Police submit arrest warrants for all 73 repatriated suspects, accusing them of online fraud such as deep‑fake romance scams that swindled 12 billion won, and charging three individuals with robbery‑by‑hostage and gambling offenses[3].
Jan 25, 2026 – Prosecutors request arrest warrants for 72 of the 73 returnees, excluding one minor case; a court already issues a warrant for a suspect who stole 19.4 billion won by impersonating a global financial firm, and hearings are set for 54 “no‑show” scammers and 17 romance‑scam operators[2].
Jan 26, 2026 – Courts issue arrest warrants for 55 suspects; police announce the arrests, noting that the 73 individuals defrauded 869 victims of a total 48.6 billion won (≈US$33.6 million) through schemes including impersonation, “no‑show” scams, and a deep‑fake romance couple that took 12 billion won[1].