Phnom penh: An international collaborative project focused on enhancing water management in Cambodia has been suspended following a recent increase in crimes targeting South Koreans in the country, a state research institute revealed.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this joint initiative, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and South Korea, is designed to bolster the resilience of communities in climate and disaster-prone regions along the Mekong River, which includes Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. The project involved the state-run Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) executing a pilot program to establish a water supply and management model utilizing renewable energy in Cambodia, in collaboration with South Korean companies.

STEPI has announced the postponement of a planned ceremony to hand over the program to Cambodian authorities. The delay is indefinite, although STEPI will continue similar efforts in other countries. South Korea’s various official development assistance programs in Cambodia may also be impacted by the recent developments between Seoul and Phnom Penh.

Public attention in South Korea has intensified due to crimes against its nationals in Cambodia, following the death of a college student who was reportedly tortured by a criminal ring involved in online scams in August. In response, the South Korean government has heightened diplomatic and investigative measures, including tracking and rescuing citizens potentially held by criminal organizations.

More than 60 South Koreans detained in Cambodia returned home on Saturday, shortly after a South Korean government response team was sent to the country.