my timesThe Korea Times
South KoreaLaw & Crime

Law & Crime

Crime wave in Cambodia threatens Korean investments and bilateral trust

A surge in violent crimes targeting Koreans in Cambodia has sparked fear and outrage in both countries, straining bilateral ties and casting a pall over tourism and cultural exchange. In recent months, a string of high-profile cases in which Koreans were kidnapped, tortured and killed by Cambodian crime syndicates — often tied to Chinese criminal networks — has shifted public sentiment and brought tangible repercussions for both Korean residents and Cambodian migrants. "Restaurants and tour businesses have lost bookings, and many are cutting contact with partners in Korea," said Chung Myung-kyu, head of the Korean Association of Cambodia. "People are saying, ‘Keep your head down. Don’t draw attention to yourself.'" Local business owners reported canceled contracts and a drop in tourist numbers since reports of violence and scams began going viral on social media. For Park, a 48-year-old bank employee in Seoul, the anxiety became personal. Earlier this year, he traveled to Cambodia as part of a partnership project with a local bank, with a follow-up trip planned for later this year

Oct 13, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Crime wave in Cambodia threatens Korean investments and bilateral trust

Gov't seeks police probe of KT for allegedly obstructing data breach investigation

The Ministry of Science and ICT said Monday it has asked the police to investigate allegations that KT obstructed a government probe into the company's unauthorized mobile payment breaches. In late August, unauthorized mobile payments worth a combined 240 million won ($168,000) were reported in Seoul and nearby areas after the personal data of hundreds of KT users were compromised through illegal micro base stations. The government subsequently formed a joint public-private investigation team to scrutinize the incident. However, the ministry said KT failed to fully cooperate with the probe and interfered with the team's activities. "KT submitted false information regarding the timing of the server disposal and did not report backup logs for the disposed servers to the investigation team until Oct. 18," the ministry said in a statement submitted to the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee for an annual parliamentary audit. "We determined there was intentional misconduct to obstruct the government investigation, including submitting false materials and

Oct 13, 2025By Yonhap
Gov't seeks police probe of KT for allegedly obstructing data breach investigation

Special counsel to summon ex-President Yoon for questioning next week in Marine death case

A special counsel team said Monday it plans to summon former President Yoon Suk Yeol to appear for questioning next week over his alleged interference in a military probe into the 2023 death of a young Marine. The team led by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon plans to send the summons to Yoon later in the day demanding his appearance at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23, according to assistant special counsel Choung Min-young. "As it is absolutely necessary to question former President Yoon, we hope he will voluntarily appear to undergo questioning," Choung said during a press briefing. Lee's team launched nearly four months ago with a mandate to investigate allegations the then Yoon administration reversed the initial findings of a military probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun to clear a then Marine commander of responsibility. This will be the first time the team questions Yoon, who allegedly flew into a rage during a meeting with senior aides upon being briefed on the initial findings. The former president was placed under arrest for a second time in July on charges related to his failed attempt

Oct 13, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel to summon ex-President Yoon for questioning next week in Marine death case

Special counsel again extends probe into ex-President Yoon by 30 days

A special counsel team said Friday it will extend its investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed imposition of martial law by another 30 days. The team led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk launched in June and extended its probe once before. Under the second extension, the investigation will run through Nov. 14. "The special counsel reported the extension decision to the president and the National Assembly," assistant special counsel Park Ji-young said during a press briefing. The second extension was made possible through the National Assembly's amendments to three special counsel bills targeting Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, last month. Under the original bills, the special counsels could use their discretion to extend their investigations by 30 days and then obtain another 30-day extension with the president's approval. The revised bills allow two 30-day extensions at their discretion. With the president's approval, Cho's team can extend its investigation through mid-December.

Oct 10, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel again extends probe into ex-President Yoon by 30 days

Repatriation of Korean student's body delayed after torture death

The body of a Korean college student in his 20s, who was reportedly tortured to death by a local criminal organization in Cambodia, has not been returned home for two months, police and his family said Friday. They said the student whose identity was withheld was found dead in Cambodia on Aug. 8 after he left for the Southeast Asian country on July 17, telling his family that he was going to attend an exhibition there. The location where the student's body was found has been confirmed to be near Bokor Mountain in Kampot Province, where employment scams and detentions targeting Koreans have frequently occurred. Cambodia's police listed cardiac arrest (resulting from torture and extreme pain) as the cause of death on his death certificate. A week after his departure, a blackmailer speaking Korean in a Korean Chinese accent called his family and demanded 50 million won ($35,200), saying the student caused trouble and needs to resolve it. After the phone call, his family contacted the police and the foreign ministry. Communication with the blackmailer was cut off after four days, and he was f

Oct 10, 2025By Yonhap
Repatriation of Korean student's body delayed after torture death

Special counsel seeks to question ex-President Yoon next week in Marine death probe

A special counsel team said Friday it seeks to question former President Yoon Suk Yeol next week as part of its probe into alleged government interference in a military probe into the death of a young Marine in 2023. The team led by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon plans to summon Yoon on Monday for questioning later in the week over the probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun in July 2023, assistant special counsel Choung Min-young said in a briefing. The case centers on allegations that some of the initial suspects of the probe were cleared after alleged interference by the then Yoon administration. The team has been looking into allegations that Yoon burst into a rage during a meeting of senior presidential officials after learning the probe blamed a senior Marine commander for Chae's death. The probe's results were subsequently changed to drop charges of death by negligence against the Marine commander. The team has grilled multiple former government and military officials allegedly involved in the case, including former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and former Marine Corps Commanda

Oct 10, 2025By Yonhap
Special counsel seeks to question ex-President Yoon next week in Marine death probe

Ex-President Yoon absent from 2nd hearing of new martial law trial

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was absent from the second hearing of his latest trial on martial law-related charges Friday. Yoon had attended the trial's first hearing on Sept. 26 as it was required by law, appearing in public for the first time since he was placed under arrest in July. The trial at the Seoul Central District Court is his second in connection with his failed attempt to impose martial law in December. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team has indicted him on charges of violating the rights of Cabinet members, revising the martial law proclamation and obstructing his detention by investigators in January. "It appears that the defendant's refusal to appear has no legitimate grounds," the bench said. "The reason for absence submitted by former President Yoon's side only cites his health and does not state that having a prison officer bring him in by force is impossible or significantly difficult." The bench was referring to a legal clause that lets a trial proceed in the defendant's absence. As the condition was not met, it said Friday's session will not count as a hearing but

Oct 10, 2025By Yonhap
Ex-President Yoon absent from 2nd hearing of new martial law trial

Unification Church leader indicted for alleged bribery linked to ex-first lady

A special counsel team on Friday indicted Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja on charges of violating the political fund law, among other offenses, over bribery allegations linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Special counsel Min Joong-ki filed the indictment after Han was placed under arrest last month over allegations of violating the Political Funds Act and the anti-graft law, subornation of evidence destruction and embezzlement. Han is accused of gifting a luxury necklace and a Chanel bag to Kim, the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol, through a shaman while requesting favors in July 2022. She is also suspected of colluding with a former church official surnamed Yun to hand 100 million won ($70,300) to People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Kweon Seong-dong in January 2022 in exchange for his help in gaining favors for the church in the event of Yoon's election as president that year. Yoon went on to win the election. Min's team also suspects she used 144 million won in church funds to make donations under multiple names to a PPP lawmaker and others between March and April th

Oct 10, 2025By Yonhap
Unification Church leader indicted for alleged bribery linked to ex-first lady

Korean college student kidnapped and killed in Cambodia after alleged torture

A 22-year-old Korean college student was found dead in Cambodia two weeks after traveling there for summer vacation. Authorities said he was kidnapped and tortured by a local crime group and died of cardiac arrest as a result. On Oct. 10, according to the police and family members, the student, identified only by his surname A, left his home in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, on July 17, telling his family he was going to attend an exhibition in Cambodia. About a week later, his family received a phone call from a man speaking with a Chinese Korean accent, saying, “A caused trouble here and has been detained. Send 50 million won ($35,000) and we’ll release him.” The family immediately contacted the Cambodian Embassy and local police, but could not determine where he was being held. Communication with the kidnappers was cut off after four days. Two weeks later, on Aug. 8, A’s body was found near Bokor Mountain in Kampot Province, where he had been held captive. The Cambodian Embassy and local authorities confirmed that the cause of death was cardiac arrest resulting from tortu

Oct 10, 2025By Hankookilbo
Korean college student kidnapped and killed in Cambodia after alleged torture

Arrest warrant sought for ex-justice minister over alleged martial law involvement

A special counsel team has filed for an arrest warrant for a former justice minister over his alleged role in last year's short-lived martial law imposition, officials said Thursday. The special counsel team investigating the martial law turmoil sought the warrant to arrest former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae on charges including involvement in the incident and abuse of power, officials said. On Dec. 3, then President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, but the National Assembly voted to lift it shortly thereafter, leading to his removal from the presidency. The former justice minister is accused of ordering ministry officials to review the dispatch of prosecutors to the central investigative body under a martial law decree and to assess the detention capacities of correctional facilities in connection with the martial law imposition. The special counsel team questioned Park in person last month, but he reportedly denied any wrongdoing.

Oct 9, 2025By Yonhap
Arrest warrant sought for ex-justice minister over alleged martial law involvement
previous page
6667686970
next page

Most Read in South Korea