South Korean overseas citizens report record fraud cases

Reports of fraud involving South Korean citizens living abroad reached a ten-year high last year, with 1,376 reported cases. This represents a 41% increase compared to the 976 cases reported in 2024.

According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided to the National Assembly, the Asia-Pacific region recorded the highest number of reports at 556. By country, the United States saw the most incidents with 224 cases, followed by Canada with 177, China with 85, and Japan with 37.

In the first half of this year, 504 citizens have already reported fraud cases. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the total number for the year could potentially decrease, officials stated they are monitoring the situation to determine the cause of the rising trend.