S. Korea vows to protect its citizens in Cambodia amid surge in kidnappings

The South Korean government has pledged stronger diplomatic and security measures to protect its citizens in Cambodia amid a surge in reported kidnappings and forced labour cases, including the recent death of a 22-year-old South Korean student who was tortured after being lured by a fake job offer.

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the authorities to “go all out in terms of diplomacy to safeguard South Koreans from crimes in Cambodia”, according to the presidential office on Oct 11.

It added that the Foreign Ministry sought the Cambodian government's cooperation and is poised to “take additional measures if necessary”, without elaborating.

This followed the government's measure to impose a travel advisory on Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, effective from 9pm local time (10pm Singapore time) on Oct 10.

The Foreign Ministry in Seoul also urged South Koreans not to be duped by fake job advertisements from Cambodia that promise unrealistically high-paying jobs, as victims have fallen prey to kidnapping for ransom or forced involvement in scamming activities.

This comes amid a series of reports of South Koreans being kidnapped and discovered in Cambodia and rescued from the country.

In the latest incident, two South Koreans were discovered in Sihanoukville in southwestern Cambodia and rescued by the local police in early October.