Voice phishing targeting agricultural cooperatives concentrated in specific Korean regions

Voice phishing incidents targeting agricultural and livestock cooperative accounts are heavily concentrated in regions with high elderly populations, according to data released by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation.

National Assembly member Lim Mi-ae reported that between 2022 and 2025, the provinces of Gyeongsangnam, Gyeongsangbuk, Jeollanam, and Chungnam consistently ranked among the top five regions for fraud cases. In 2025, these four regions accounted for 43.1% of all reported incidents nationwide, totaling 2,290 cases and approximately 86.37 billion KRW in damages.

While the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation has implemented a 24-hour Fraud Detection System (FDS) and increased monitoring personnel, critics argue that more localized and specialized prevention measures are needed. Lawmakers are calling for a detailed analysis of why these specific regions remain vulnerable and are urging for tailored protection strategies for elderly customers to effectively reduce recurring fraud.