'Hades Cafe' Remittance Agent for Cambodian Crime Ring Sentenced to 1 Year and 6 Months in Prison

by Lee Jiye

Published 17 Apr.2026 11:38(KST)

"Caused Irreparable Damage to Victims"

A remittance agent who operated at "Hades Cafe," which has been identified as a recruitment hub for Cambodian criminal organizations, has been sentenced to prison.

Seoul Southern District Court. The Asia Business Daily

On April 17, the Criminal Division 15 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Noh Yu-gyeong) sentenced a man in his 30s, referred to as Mr. A, to one year and six months in prison on charges including fraud.

The court stated, "The social harm is serious, as the defendant caused irreparable damage to multiple victims," adding, "There are a significant number of victims, and the amount defrauded is approximately 66 million won." The court further noted, "The defendant has a history of dozens of fraud offenses, demonstrating a lack of law-abiding awareness, and a corresponding punishment is inevitable." However, it was taken into consideration as a favorable factor that Mr. A had repaid a portion of the damages to the victims.

Mr. A was brought to trial for serving as a remittance agent at "Hades Cafe," which is known as a channel connecting voice phishing organizations with those recruiting bank accounts under borrowed names. Hades Cafe is known for luring young people into criminal organizations and encouraging various illegal acts.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors had requested a three-year prison term for Mr. A. Although Mr. A denied the charges, claiming he had simply handed over his bank account to the criminal group, the prosecution's investigation revealed that he had participated in the crime while already having a previous record of fraud offenses.