Chuseok Voice Phishing Losses Exceed 100 Billion Won Amid Holiday Surge

• •Voice phishing losses during Chuseok exceeded 100 billion won for the first time.
• •The average loss per victim increased significantly, reaching 51 million won in October 2025.
• •Authorities are enhancing crackdowns on overseas phishing operations amid rising holiday scams.

Voice phishing schemes in South Korea have escalated, with losses during the Chuseok holiday period surpassing 100 billion won ($72 million) for the first time. The National Police Agency reported that losses rose from 51.6 billion won in September 2021 to 101.1 billion won in October last year, indicating a significant increase in the average loss per case. The methods employed include smishing texts and fraudulent calls, often exploiting holiday themes such as misdelivered parcels and gift registrations. The Seoul metropolitan area was particularly affected, accounting for nearly half of the national losses. Despite a reported decline in voice phishing cases earlier in 2026, the holiday season has seen a resurgence in scams. Authorities are intensifying crackdowns on overseas phishing operations, with repatriations of scam ring members increasing annually. The trend of rising losses during holiday periods aligns with a broader increase in financial fraud cases in South Korea.