Cambodia Faces Scrutiny Over Surge in Korean Kidnappings

SBS
 

Cambodia is under growing international pressure following revelations that 252 South Koreans have been kidnapped and confined in the country so far this year—a staggering rise from just 17 cases in 2023. The victims are believed to have been lured by fraudulent job offers and forced into labour at illegal call centres run by transnational crime syndicates.

The latest figures, released by Korean authorities and reported by multiple outlets including MBC and The Korea Herald, paint a grim picture of organised exploitation. One rescued woman in her twenties described being abducted upon arrival in Cambodia, robbed of ₩18 million, and subjected to beatings so severe she could barely walk. She claimed at least 13 other Koreans remained imprisoned in the same compound, where detainees were stripped of their identities and referred to only by numbers.

In a separate case last month, a Korean man surnamed Park was found dead in Kampot province, his body showing signs of torture. Investigators believe he was forced to work in one of the many scam centres that have proliferated across Cambodia.

Rights groups say the problem is systemic. Amnesty International estimates over 50 large-scale criminal compounds operate in the country, often with alleged ties to Chinese Triads and complicity from Cambodian officials. These centres are notorious for cyber fraud, human trafficking, and violent coercion.

Despite repeated calls for action, South Korea’s ability to intervene remains limited. With only one police officer stationed at its embassy in Phnom Penh, Korean authorities rely heavily on Cambodian cooperation, which has so far yielded few results.

The Cambodian government claims to have made over 2,100 arrests since June, but critics argue enforcement is patchy and corruption widespread. As the number of victims climbs, pressure mounts on both Seoul and Phnom Penh to dismantle these criminal networks and prevent further abuse.

For now, the compounds remain active—and for many, the promise of a high-paying job abroad continues to mask a brutal reality.

-2025-09-04