On October 16, SBS aired a chilling special episode of Unanswered Questions titled “Criminal City Cambodia: 88 Days of Pursuit,” diving into the harrowing stories of Korean nationals who were trafficked and tortured by organized crime syndicates operating in Cambodia.
The investigative team connected with a Korean survivor who had recently escaped captivity. Speaking under anonymity, the whistleblower revealed he had been lured to Cambodia under false promises of debt forgiveness.
“They said if I stayed in a hotel for two weeks, my debt would be erased,” he said. “But when I arrived, I was taken to a compound with locked steel doors, CCTV everywhere, and armed guards. It was like a prison.”
He recounted being tortured and threatened, with the captors warning him:
“We put your photo at the airport. If you escape, the Cambodian police will catch you and return you to us. Then you’ll die.”
Another victim, held in a criminal hub known as “Wench,” had also been tricked through a job scam on Telegram. He described how once aboard the flight, he was contacted by someone using the nickname Kkomi, who ordered him to send a photo proving he had boarded.
“They told me they were now in charge of me. Every time I tried to speak, a woman named ‘Kkomi’ would pick up the phone,” he said.
Upon arrival, the victim was ordered to open a Korean bank account.
“I told them I had bad credit, and they responded, ‘Do you want us to cut off your finger? Just unlock the account.’”
The program also tracked down individuals suspected of being part of the organization, including a man who went by Nami. Despite denying his identity, his voice matched that of previous phone calls. When questioned about accusations of torture, kidnapping, and extortion, he offered a disturbing reply:
“Of course, torture and kidnapping are bad. But no one forced them to come. They came here to make money illegally. Who are they going to blame?”
When asked if he felt any guilt, he coldly responded,
“If someone offers me work, I won’t refuse.”
He then flashed a ‘V’ sign at the camera and walked away.
This shocking exposé has reignited calls for stronger international cooperation and protections for Korean nationals abroad, especially as human trafficking scams targeting vulnerable individuals continue to rise.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스
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