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Public attention to voice phishing crimes increased last year after a large number of Koreans were arrested through international cooperation at scam compounds in Cambodia. The government has declared war on scam fraud and is concentrating all available resources, including directly reporting arrest results to the presidential office. Nevertheless, scam fraud has still not been eradicated. Victims continue to emerge, and those who become involved in these crimes are also steadily being punished.

As an attorney operating law firms in both Korea and Thailand, I have personally encountered the bases of scam fraud several times and have directly represented suspects on the ground. I therefore believe I understand the reality of these crimes better than most.

Scam crimes are systematically organized both in Korea and overseas. In Korea, those involved can generally be classified as collection couriers who collect victims’ money, delivery couriers who transfer the collected funds, money laundering operatives who deposit and manage the funds through borrowed-name bank accounts, and account managers who manage those borrowed-name accounts. Overseas, ringleaders who directly issue scam instructions and team members who carry them out are positioned within the organization, and those team members directly participate in deceiving victims.

The problem lies with domestic collection couriers, delivery couriers, and money laundering operatives who are not directly involved in the core voice phishing or scam fraud organization. In many cases, they are lured by phrases such as “high-paying part-time job” or “contactless part-time job” on ordinary job recruitment websites. After checking business registration certificates or even websites, they end up stepping into the crime. Many participate without even realizing that the work is connected to voice phishing.

(Omitted)

The Supreme Court has held regarding conspiracy that “no fixed form is required; it is sufficient if there is a combination of intent to jointly realize a crime. Even without an overall prior plan, a conspiratorial relationship may be established if several persons’ intentions are combined successively or implicitly.”

(Omitted)

Scam fraud is a crime that our society must confront together. Protection of victims and strict punishment are certainly necessary. At the same time, however, we must also consider fair treatment for those who were used by criminal organizations. True justice can be realized only when the responsibility of every person involved is accurately distinguished and punishment proportionate to that responsibility is imposed.

Source: Aju Business Daily, “[Expert Contribution] Voice Phishing and Scam Fraud: Scams That Deceive Even the Suspects,” February 23, 2026.
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