Criminal Group Active in Cambodia Also Found Operating Office in Seoul

The Address Was a Shared Office Space
Contact Number Listed Is Also a Cambodian Number

Prince Real Estate Group's Seoul office building. Office of Assemblyman Seo Beom-su. Screenshot from Prince Real Estate website.

There is evidence that the "Prince Group," which has been sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom for illegal activities such as fraud, kidnapping, and human trafficking in Cambodia, has also operated an office in Seoul.

According to the office of Assemblyman Seo Beom-su, a member of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, Prince Real Estate Group, the real estate affiliate of Prince Group, indicates on its website that it has a Korean office and shares an address in Sunhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. The listed phone number uses Cambodia’s country code.

When Assemblyman Seo’s office visited the address, they found that the office on the 17th floor was a shared workspace, making it difficult to confirm whether Prince Group was actually operating there. Attempts to call the listed phone number were also unsuccessful.

However, according to Assemblyman Seo’s office, Prince Real Estate Group promoted the opening of a showroom in Korea in May and was confirmed to have held a gallery event in Seoul in August. In addition, in 2022, the group reportedly had exchanges with the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.

There are also calls for an investigation into whether the group engaged in similar activities domestically, given that its real estate affiliate has reportedly been used for money laundering.

Assemblyman Seo emphasized, "While it is important to rescue and repatriate citizens from Cambodia, we must not neglect the task of uncovering domestic criminal connections. If the group is conducting business in Korea, it is necessary to investigate what crimes they may be involved in."