The article discusses the repatriation of Korean nationals detained in Cambodia following a crackdown on a suspected crime syndicate in Sihanoukville. As of October 15, four Korean individuals have been deported on a Korean national aircraft. These detainees were apprehended during the Cambodian police operation and have arrest warrants issued by Korean authorities. Approximately 60 to 70 Koreans remain in detention in Cambodia.
The Korean government is in discussions with Cambodian authorities regarding the repatriation of these individuals, recognizing the importance of conducting investigations in Korea. While both governments agree on the necessity, some detainees are resisting return, necessitating further negotiations on repatriation methods.
To facilitate the process, the government is considering deploying a charter flight to bring all detainees back at once. The limited capacity of commercial flights, allowing only up to four detainees per day due to the requirement of two officers per detainee, makes this option challenging. Using a charter flight for mass repatriation would mark the largest operation of its kind. Meanwhile, National Investigation Headquarters Chief Park Seong-joo has traveled to Cambodia to discuss the complete repatriation of detainees.