Government Response Team: "Repatriation of 59 South Koreans Detained in Cambodia Still Under Negotiation"

Cambodian Police Chief
to Meet with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

Although local police in Cambodia announced on the 17th (local time) that 59 South Koreans currently detained in Cambodia would be deported, the South Korean government stated that the schedule for their repatriation has not yet been finalized.

Members of the government joint response team are listening to Pang Naren, Deputy Secretary-General of the Online Scam Response Committee, explaining at the Prince Zone near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the 16th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The government joint response team, led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jin-a, said in a notice on the same day, "The Cambodian authorities have announced plans to deport 59 of our nationals who are currently detained." The team added, "Both sides are closely coordinating to facilitate an early repatriation."

The team further explained, "Some technical and administrative issues remain," and added, "It is difficult to announce the departure schedule (for the detainees to Korea) at this time." The response team will release the exact repatriation schedule as soon as it is determined.

The Cambodian National Police Agency announced in a statement the previous day that, in cooperation with the South Korean Embassy in Cambodia, they plan to deport 59 South Koreans who have been rescued or detained for other crimes back to their home country on the 17th. There were initially 63 South Koreans detained at the Cambodian Immigration Department, but two each returned to Korea on national flights on the 14th and the morning of the 17th. These individuals will be investigated by law enforcement agencies regarding their alleged crimes.

Previously, the South Korean government stated that it was preparing flights and aimed to repatriate the detainees by the end of this weekend. Park Sungjoo, Commissioner General of the National Investigation Headquarters, is scheduled to meet with the Chief of the Cambodian National Police Agency on this day, while Vice Minister Kim plans to meet with the Cambodian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Interior to discuss cooperation measures.