A South Korean university student has revealed harrowing details of being tortured for months after being trafficked to a cyber-scam compound in Cambodia, in a case that exposes the brutal reality of organised crime operations targeting foreigners across Southeast Asia.
From Student to Captive
The victim, identified only by his surname Lee, was a 20-year-old computer science student when he was lured to Cambodia with promises of legitimate IT work. Instead, he found himself imprisoned in a compound in Sihanoukville, forced to participate in online fraud schemes targeting people in South Korea and other countries.
"They beat me with electric batons and metal pipes daily," Lee recounted to journalists. "When I couldn't meet their scam targets, the punishment was unbearable."
Systematic Abuse and International Response
According to investigators, Lee's ordeal lasted nearly eight months before Cambodian authorities raided the compound following international pressure. The operation freed dozens of victims from various countries, all trapped in similar circumstances.
The case has triggered diplomatic efforts between South Korea and Cambodia, with Seoul pushing for stronger action against what appears to be a growing network of criminal enterprises operating with impunity in the region.
Inside the Scam Operation
- Victims forced to work 16-hour days running romance and investment scams
- Heavy surveillance with armed guards preventing escape attempts
- Systematic physical and psychological torture for underperformance
- Confiscation of passports and communication devices
Cambodian police have acknowledged the problem, stating that "several compounds in Sihanoukville and other areas have been identified as operating illegal cyber-scam activities." However, activists argue that corruption and weak enforcement have allowed these operations to flourish.
Recovery and Ongoing Trauma
Since his rescue and return to South Korea, Lee has been receiving medical treatment and psychological counselling. The physical scars may heal, but the psychological damage runs deep.
"I still have nightmares," he confessed. "I wake up thinking I'm still there. No one should experience what I went through."
His case has prompted warnings from South Korean authorities about job offers in Cambodia and neighbouring countries that appear too good to be true, particularly those offering high salaries for IT or customer service work with minimal requirements.
The international community continues to monitor the situation as reports emerge of similar operations targeting vulnerable individuals from across Asia and beyond, trapped in modern-day slavery under the guise of employment opportunities.
