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11h ago

South Korea Imposes Code-Black Ban in Cambodia, Moves to Repatriate Detained Citizens

Talks in Phnom Penh center on coordinated repatriation of about 60 detainees.

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Workers ride their motor-cart loaded with glass past a branch of the Prince Bank in Phnom Penh on October 15, 2025. US authorities on October 14 unsealed an indictment against Chen Zhi, a UK-Cambodian businessman accused of running forced labor camps in Cambodia where trafficked workers carried out cryptocurrency fraud schemes that netted billions of dollars. The 37-year-old, known as Vincent, founded Prince Holding Group, a multinational conglomerate that authorities say served as a front for "one of Asia's largest transnational criminal organizations," according to the US Department of Justice. Since around 2015, Prince Group has operated across more than 30 countries under the guise of legitimate real estate, financial services and consumer businesses, prosecutors said. (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP) (Photo by TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP via Getty Images)
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina (L) speaks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet during their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 16, 2025, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Overview

  • The Level 4 travel ban covers Bokor Mountain, Bavet and Poipet, with officials warning violators could face penalties under the Passport Act.
  • An interagency team led by Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina met Prime Minister Hun Manet and his anti-scam commission to arrange returns, with plans under discussion for a special flight by week’s end; the detainee count stands at 61.
  • South Korea reports roughly 80 unresolved cases and estimates about 1,000 Koreans among some 200,000 people tied to Cambodia’s scam compounds.
  • Cambodian authorities say three Chinese suspects have been charged over the August torture death of student Park Min-ho and report recent rescues of at least 80 Koreans, while Korean police are also probing the death of a woman found near the Vietnam border.
  • Seoul ordered emergency removal of fraudulent job ads, is expanding police and consular capacity including a planned Korean Desk in Sihanoukville, and is coordinating with international actions that seized nearly $15 billion in bitcoin and targeted Prince Group and its chairman Chen Zhi.