Police in South Korea have arrested 26 Vietnamese marriage migrants and international students for allegedly laundering about 8.5 billion won ($6.2 million) linked to voice phishing and investment scam syndicates.
The operation was carried out by the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency, which announced on Tuesday that all 26 suspects had been referred to prosecutors. Four of the suspects were detained due to the seriousness of the allegations.
Investigators said the group moved criminal proceeds generated through voice phishing and fraudulent investment schemes between September and October 2024. The suspects allegedly concealed approximately 8.5 billion won through 905 separate transactions, transferring funds between multiple accounts and sending money overseas to obscure its origins.
The investigation began after police received intelligence that “overseas remittance part-time jobs” were becoming popular among members of the Vietnamese community in South Korea. Authorities subsequently uncovered a network allegedly being used to launder money for criminal organizations.
According to police, the suspects were recruited with promises of commissions amounting to 10 percent of the money they transferred. Investigators also found that some participants expanded the operation by recruiting other Vietnamese migrants and students, creating a multi-level structure designed to increase earnings.
Authorities stressed that even individuals who merely lent out their bank accounts, regardless of whether they fully understood the nature of the activity, were arrested and referred for prosecution.
Police are now focusing on identifying and apprehending the organizers believed to be behind the money laundering network.
A spokesperson for the agency warned that transferring money from unknown sources constitutes money laundering under South Korean law and may result not only in criminal penalties but also immigration consequences, including visa extension denials and deportation.
Officials urged foreign residents not to lend their bank accounts or transfer funds on behalf of others, even if requested by friends or acquaintances, and encouraged anyone receiving similar offers to report them to the relevant authorities immediately.
