What Happened to the South Korean Woman Found Dead in Vietnam?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The South Korean woman was found deceased near the Vietnam-Cambodia border.
- Initial investigations show no signs of foul play.
- Authorities suspect a potential link to voice phishing activities.
- The case reflects a growing concern over scams targeting South Koreans abroad.
- Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of death.
Seoul, Oct 15 (NationPress) Authorities reported that a South Korean woman was discovered deceased in Vietnam close to the Cambodian border last week under mysterious circumstances. The police disclosed this information on Wednesday.
The woman, believed to be in her 30s, was located near the Vietnam-Cambodia border on October 8 (local time), prompting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
Officials stated that the woman’s body underwent an autopsy before being returned to her family. No indications of foul play were found, according to authorities.
The Seoul foreign ministry indicated that it requested local public security officials in Vietnam to investigate the woman’s whereabouts following a tip-off from a South Korean national who had escaped from a phishing scam syndicate in Cambodia.
The informant alleged that the woman had been confined in a local hotel for an extended duration.
South Korean law enforcement, suspecting a potential link between the woman and a local voice phishing operation, has initiated an internal investigation.
Authorities believe the woman may have died while attempting to return to Cambodia after her visit to Vietnam, allegedly at the behest of a criminal organization.
Recent weeks have seen a spike in crimes targeting South Koreans in Cambodia who have fallen victim to job scams, with officials in Seoul striving to repatriate approximately 60 Koreans detained in Cambodia related to these incidents.
Authorities plan to ascertain the precise cause of death upon receiving the autopsy findings from Vietnamese officials.
In related news, two South Korean nationals who were detained during a crackdown on job scams in Cambodia returned home this week, police confirmed.
These individuals were part of a group of 63 South Koreans detained at Cambodia's immigration offices during a crackdown related to a series of disappearances and abuse cases involving Koreans, including one fatality.
While police initially reported that four South Korean suspects returned, a revised announcement confirmed that only two had made the journey home.
The repatriated suspects were transported on a flight operated by a national carrier on Tuesday, with some having been placed on the Interpol Red Notice wanted list after warrants for their detention were issued.