Koreans linked to alleged online scams in Cambodia arrive home to face inquiries

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Dozens of South Koreans allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia arrived in South Korea on a chartered flight Saturday to face criminal investigations.

The repatriation follows the death of a South Korean student who was reportedly forced to work in a scam center in Cambodia. His death triggered public outrage in South Korea, prompting the government to send a delegation to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, for talks on joint responses.

Cambodian Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak said earlier that 64 South Koreans were to be repatriated from Cambodia late Friday. After their chartered plane landed at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport on Saturday morning, the returnees were seen in handcuffs, each escorted by police officers on both sides, as they were led to a parking area where security vehicles were waiting to transport them.

Most of the repatriated South Koreans were detained in Cambodia during crackdowns on scam centers and will face police investigations at home, Seoul’s national security director Wi Sung-lac said. Authorities are likely seeking to determine whether they had willingly joined the organizations or were forced to work after being lured by false job ads.

Scam centers in Cambodia are estimated to have about 200,000 workers, including 1,000 South Koreans, according to South Korean officials.

Online scams have risen sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic and produced two sets of victims — those forced to work as scammers under the threat of violence, and the targets of their fraud via bogus investment pitches, illegal gambling schemes and even romantic ploys. Monitoring groups say online scams earn international criminal gangs billions of dollars annually.

A South Korean travel ban came into effect Thursday for parts of Cambodia, including Bokor Mountain in Kampot province, where the South Korean student was found dead. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has requested the restrictions are eased, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday ordered authorities to take urgent action to try to remove illegal advertisements for jobs not only in Cambodia but also across Southeast Asia.

Online scam centers were previously concentrated in Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia and Myanmar, with most of the trafficked and other workers coming from Asia. But an Interpol report in June said the past three years have seen victims trafficked to Southeast Asia from distant regions including South America, Western Europe and Eastern Africa and that new centers have been reported in the Middle East, West Africa and Central America.

Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report from Seoul. Cheang reported from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

South Koreans, wearing caps, allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia arrive at the Incheon International Airport, in Incheon, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Yonhap via AP)

South Koreans, wearing caps, allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia arrive at the Incheon International Airport, in Incheon, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Yonhap via AP)

Korean Air staff and police officers ride a bus at Techo International Airport in Kandal province, Cambodia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A Korean Air plane is seen at the VIP section for chartered planes at Techo International Airport in Kandal province, Cambodia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A Korean Air plane is seen at the VIP section for chartered planes at Techo International Airport in Kandal province, Cambodia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A Korean Air staff speaks with police officers at Techo International Airport in Kandal province, Cambodia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A Korean Air plane is seen at the VIP section for chartered planes at Techo International Airport in Kandal province, Cambodia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

FILE - A boy plays near a building, where some people trafficked under false pretenses are being forced to work in online scams targeting people all over the world, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)

In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina, center left, talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, center right, during a meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (AKP via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open's first formal opening ceremony became the Roger Federer show on the eve of the season-opening major.

There was Crowded House, the band, playing a set of four hits. There was a full house — a capacity crowd in the 15,000-seat stadium.

Rod Laver, the great Australian player of Grand Slam fame, was in the house. The 87-year-old Aussie was sitting courtside in Rod Laver Arena, the center court at Melbourne Park named in his honor.

Federer, the six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, partnered past champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program.

It went to script, with Federer winning the first point despite framing a forehand and then emphatically finishing off the victory with a leaping overhead winner.

Novak Djokovic, who has won 10 Australian titles among his record 24 major championships, was there to watch.

The Australian Open main draw singles competitions start Sunday. Djokovic plays his opening match on Monday.

Australian Open organizers turned the 2026 edition into a three-week festival of tennis, with 217,999 fans attending across six days to watch exhibitions, qualifying and the 1 Point Slam before the main draw started.

Federer was back in Australia for the first time since 2021, making the trip now because he retired from competitive tennis before he could do a farewell season tour.

“It really truly means so much to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up,” Federer said. “It’s super important to be grateful” to earlier generations of stars.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts with partner Ash Barty of Australia in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Rod Laver, centre, waves ahead of a doubles match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andre Agassi of the United States, left, and Lleyton Hewitt, right, and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andre Agassi, right, of the United States react in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Novak Djokovic, right, of Serbia embraces Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts with partner Andre Agassi, left, of the United States in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)