[News Today] “Forced to toil for Cambodian scam ring”

[LEAD]
KBS continues to uncover the harrowing reality faced by Koreans held captive in Cambodian scam compounds. In our latest report, a man in his 20s shares how he was lured by promises of big money, only to be trapped in a voice phishing operation where torture and beatings were a daily routine. This is his story.

[REPORT]
Phrases in Chinese and Korean are written on a red banner hung on the wall. The phrase reads 'A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step'

Rows of mobile phones are lined up beneath the banner.

Koh Kong Province in Cambodia is known as a crime-ridden area.

A Korean man in his 20s known only as Mr. A was held captive here in January and was forced to make scam calls to Koreans every day.

Mr. ‘A’ / (VOICE MODIFIED)
I asked them why they’re targeting Koreans. They said they would be sentenced to death if they defrauded the Chinese, but not when they conned Koreans.

Torture and beating always followed a poor performance.

Mr. ‘A’ / (VOICE MODIFIED)
They locked me up in a room, electrocuted me or hit my head with a glass bottle. Brass knuckle beatings too, keeping me barely breathing so I can keep working.

He was rescued by the Cambodian police but had to bribe them in order to return to Korea.

Mr. ‘A’ / (VOICE MODIFIED)
They demanded USD 150 to fuel up the car taking me to immigration. When I give them 20 dollars for a 10-dollar lunch, no change for me.

Mr. A was given a suspended sentence after he was deported to Korea. He regrets being tempted by money and getting involved in criminal activities in the past.

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