Foreign tourists pose while visiting Myeong-dong in central Seoul, June 9. Yonhap
As a record number of international visitors flock to Korea on the back of the popularity of Korean culture, crimes targeting foreigners have surged sharply, with K-pop merchandise scams emerging as a growing threat among a broader wave of fraud.
According to latest data submitted by the National Police Agency to Rep. Kim Joon-hwan of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the number of foreign nationals — whether visitors or residents — who fell victim to fraud in Korea nearly quadrupled over the past two years.
The number of foreign fraud victims rose from 5,307 in 2023 to 8,671 in 2024, before skyrocketing to 19,907 last year.
One of the notable fraud schemes targeting foreigners are scams related to hallyu, or the Korean wave, in which fraudsters approach overseas fans claiming they can purchase and ship merchandise related to K-pop stars or other Korean celebrities. Victims are asked to send money upfront, after which the scammers disappear without delivering the goods.
