Imagine being trapped in a nightmare so surreal that escape seems impossible. For one Korean man, this horrifying reality ended in tragedy when he was found dead in a crime compound run by a Chinese gang in Cambodia.

According to South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the lifeless body of a man surnamed Park was discovered on August 6 in an isolated compound near Bokor Mountain, located in Kampot Province, Cambodia. Local authorities have since launched an investigation, uncovering a chilling scene that reveals just how dark human greed can become.

When police arrived at the scene, they stumbled upon not just Park's body, but also the remains of another victim hidden in a large trash bin, wrapped in blankets and black plastic bags. The sight was gruesome: Park's face was severely swollen, and his body bore dark bruises and blood—horrific evidence of a brutal assault. Cambodian authorities are now piecing together the events that led to this tragic end, desperately seeking answers.

This location, infamously dubbed a “crime compound” or “wrench,” functions as a large-scale scam call center, where dozens or even hundreds of people are confined and forced into organized online phishing operations. Reports suggest that Park was held against his will and ultimately killed due to an internal financial dispute within the criminal organization. Just think about that for a moment: lives reduced to mere pawns in a deadly game of greed.

Human rights organization Amnesty International has revealed that there are over 50 such compounds operating in Cambodia, most run by Chinese triads and other notorious gangs. These groups are infamous for their brutal tactics, often torturing or even killing those who attempt to escape or fail to meet their fraudulent quotas.

A harrowing account from a 28-year-old Korean man, who recently escaped from a similar compound, sheds light on the horror. He described how, “Chinese members of the organization will easily kill a person over money. Beatings and electric torture were common, and when I tried to escape but was caught, I was locked in a warehouse for a week and subjected to waterboarding.” This chilling testimony paints a terrifying picture of life inside these crime compounds.

The numbers are staggering: in just the first half of this year, 212 individuals have fallen victim to kidnapping and confinement in Cambodia—a jaw-dropping 1,827% increase compared to a mere 11 victims in 2011. If this trend continues, projections show that this year could see double the number of victims than last year’s already alarming total of 221.