South Korea and dozens of United Nations member states formally launched an informal coalition on 13 June to combat technology-facilitated trafficking in persons, as Seoul intensifies its diplomatic push on the issue following a high-profile case involving South Koreans targeted by online scam operations in Cambodia last year.

The New Coalition

South Korea's mission to the UN and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly hosted the launch event for the 'Group of Friends for Combating Technology-facilitated Trafficking in Persons' in Washington. The group is designed as a flexible, action-oriented platform open to all UN member states, focused on raising awareness, exchanging best practices, and strengthening international cooperation against a rapidly evolving form of transnational crime.

What the Ambassador Said

Seoul's Ambassador to the UN, Cha Ji-hoon, stressed the urgency of a coordinated global response to human trafficking enabled by digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). He warned that no country or region is immune to the threat. Ambassador Cha cited a deeply personal case that galvanised South Korean public attention: 'Last summer, a Korean university student fell victim to an overseas online scam, kidnapped, tortured and ultimately killed. This tragic incident deeply shocked Korean society and served as a wake-up call to the dire risk of human trafficking linked to online scam businesses,' he said. 'Our thoughts remain with him, his family and countless others whose lives have been shattered by this crime globally,' he added.

Why This Matters

The launch comes amid mounting international concern over transnational criminal networks that exploit the internet and digital platforms to recruit, control, and exploit victims — and to conceal criminal proceeds. Traffickers increasingly use social media, encrypted messaging apps, and AI-driven tools to identify and lure targets, making traditional law-enforcement responses inadequate. This is not an isolated bilateral concern; the UNODC has flagged Southeast Asia in particular as a growing hub for scam compound operations that feed into trafficking networks, affecting nationals from multiple countries.

South Korea's Diplomatic Push

Seoul's drive to establish this group reflects a broader escalation in its foreign policy engagement on human trafficking and digital crime since the Cambodia scam incidents came to light. South Korean authorities have previously coordinated with Cambodian officials to repatriate victims, but the new UN-level platform signals an ambition to institutionalise multilateral responses rather than rely on ad hoc bilateral interventions. Notably, the group's 'flexible' mandate is intended to allow rapid adaptation as trafficking methods evolve with emerging technologies.

On the Sidelines: South Korea-Italy Ties

Separately, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung described South Korea and Italy as 'optimal partners for business cooperation' during his opening remarks at a business roundtable in Rome, where leaders from both countries explored avenues for enhanced economic collaboration. Lee said the two nations could together build a 'new industrial order,' signalling Seoul's concurrent push to deepen economic ties alongside its multilateral security diplomacy.

The Group of Friends is expected to convene its first substantive dialogue in the coming months, with the UNODC providing technical support to member states on identifying and prosecuting technology-enabled trafficking networks.