Cambodians outraged by South Korean president’s ‘ruin you’ scam threat

A social media warning to transnational scam networks by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ignited backlash from Cambodians accusing him of tarnishing their country’s image, prompting the post’s deletion amid diplomatic clarifications.On Friday, Lee shared a report by Korean outlet OhMyNews stating that Chinese organised crime groups in Cambodia were shunning Korean recruits for fear of Seoul’s police raids, as reported by the Khmer Times and The Korea Herald.“If you dare to mess with South Koreans, it will ruin you and your family,” Lee wrote in Korean and Khmer. “Did it look like I was joking? South Korea will pursue this to the very end once we make such a promise.”The message echoed Lee’s pledge in October last year to take action against syndicates behind the abductions, forced labour and deaths of Koreans in scam compounds, according to The Korea Herald.His administration launched a “Korean Desk” in Cambodia last November, pairing seven Korean officers with 12 Cambodians to secure 136 arrests and rescue four abductees by the end of last month, the newspaper reported.Police officers escort South Koreans allegedly involved in scam operations in Cambodia after they were forcibly repatriated last month. Photo: ReutersCambodia deported 73 South Koreans and 136 Myanmar nationals on January 23, accused of scamming 48.6 billion won (US$33.4 million) from 869 Korean victims in the largest single-country return to date, according to The Korea Herald.