​​The rise of voice phishing scams — scams in which criminals impersonate trusted sources, such as banks or legitimate companies, to manipulate victims into transferring money or sensitive information — in South Korea has led to significant financial losses for victims and also manipulated vulnerable individuals into unknowingly participating in these criminal activities.

Reports of voice phishing have surged to 1,000 cases daily at the National Police Agency’s (NPA) newly launched telecommunications financial fraud response center. Alongside this increase, a growing number of ordinary citizens have been tricked into serving as cash mules — unwitting victims who transfer or launder money for scammers.