ED China must act on transnational cybercrime
A man allegedly involved in romance scams is taken to a court in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 21. He is one of the 60 Koreans who were repatriated to Korea after being arrested in Cambodia. Yonhap
Seoul should request Beijing to crack down on online fraud
For a long time, transnational cybercrime was of little concern to Korea. That changed recently. The tragic death of a young Korean university student in August, found near a criminal compound in Cambodia’s Bokor Mountain area, was a chilling reminder that Korea is no longer safe from transnational cybercrimes such as romance scams, “pig butchering” scams (a long-running scam involving escalating financial contributions) and illegal online gambling operations. The student’s body, bearing severe bruises from brutal torture before death, has come to symbolize the harsh reality of the online scam industry that has flourished in parts of Southeast Asia — particularly Cambodia and Myanmar — since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following news reports of the incident, many survivors began speaking out online about their own harrowing experiences after being lured to Cambodia by fraudulent job offers and detained in criminal compounds. The Korean government, caught off guard by the growing crisis, rushed to implement a series of reactive measures to protect its citizens abroad.
However, domestic measures alone are insufficient to prevent Koreans from falling victim to transnational cybercrime. Real prevention requires coordinated international action to address the root causes. Korea must work closely with Southeast Asian countries that possess these criminal compounds within their jurisdiction to find sustainable solutions. Yet, such partnerships are unlikely to succeed without China’s active participation.
Many of the criminal compounds in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian nations were established with Chinese criminal investment and are operated by Chinese syndicates. These groups relocated to countries with weaker regulatory oversight in the late 2010s, following Beijing’s crackdown on online gambling. In these new countries, Chinese criminal organizations forged ties with corrupt local officials who turned a blind eye to their illicit activities, including human trafficking, forced labor and even organ harvesting.
Chinese nationals are both perpetrators and victims in this unfortunate transnational web. While Chinese criminal groups own and operate many of the scam compounds, Chinese nationals — along with workers from dozens of other countries — have also been trafficked and enslaved to work in them against their will.
The dual role of Chinese citizens underscores the need for Beijing to engage in regional efforts to combat transnational cybercrime. An effective response in Southeast Asia will be possible only if China acknowledges its responsibility and participates actively in cooperative regional initiatives to dismantle these networks.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit presents a fortuitous opportunity to address and find solutions to the growing problem of online scams in Southeast Asia.
President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Nov. 1 on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. According to the presidential office, the two leaders are expected to discuss issues concerning peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea and regional dynamics in East Asia.
The presidential office appears to place greater emphasis on the symbolism of the upcoming Lee–Xi meeting, rather than on its agenda, likely because Xi’s visit marks the first state visit to South Korea by a Chinese leader in 11 years. Symbolism indeed matters in diplomacy.
With China’s role in addressing transnational cybercrime being critical, Korea should adopt a more proactive stance. Lee should raise the issue of online scams and the involvement of Chinese nationals. If necessary, he should speak out firmly and urge China to act responsibly, as transnational cybercrime continues to victimize citizens across multiple nations. Lee should call on the Chinese leader to take concrete measures to dismantle criminal networks and help restore peace and security in the region.
According to the United Nations, people from more than 40 countries have been forced to work in criminal compounds across Southeast Asia, most of them victims of human trafficking. Victims are reported to have been subject to brutal treatment. Survivors describe beatings and torture as routine punishment for failing to meet performance targets.
As a global power, China cannot afford to ignore crimes committed by its nationals abroad. Beijing’s inaction in the face of such atrocities undermines its long-claimed narrative of a “peaceful rise,” which it often invokes when facing criticism over assertive behavior in regional disputes.
China has been locked in a rivalry with the United States across nearly every domain in its pursuit of global influence. With its position as a global power comes great responsibility. As one of the world’s two leading powers, China must demonstrate that it is a responsible member of the international community by taking decisive action against transnational cybercrime.