Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for relevant ministries to use "all available resources" to help South Korean nationals kidnapped in Cambodia over job scams return home. Lee made the call during a Cabinet meeting as the reported kidnappings of Korean nationals jumped this year over job scams and the torture death of a college student that prompted Foreign Minister Cho Hyun to summon Cambodia's ambassador.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee stressed the importance of establishing a regular communication channel between the law enforcement authorities of South Korea and Cambodia. He urged that Korean nationals kidnapped in Cambodia be promptly found and sent home. In response to rising safety concerns, Lee directed the government to "implement all available resources to promptly, accurately and decisively respond to this problem."
To prevent further incidents, Lee emphasized the necessity of strengthening travel restrictions to areas with high crime risks. Last Friday, the foreign ministry elevated its Level 2 travel advisory for Phnom Penh to a special travel advisory, which is already in effect in the southern and border regions with Vietnam.
Lee also highlighted the need for adequate staffing and budget allocations for embassies abroad to ensure timely assistance to Koreans in distress. Discussions with Phnom Penh are underway to increase the number of police officers at the South Korean Embassy and to establish a "Korean Desk" within the Cambodian national police to handle cases involving Koreans.
According to official data, crimes against South Koreans in Cambodia have increased significantly, rising from 81 cases in 2022 to 134 in 2023 and 348 last year. In the first half of this year, the number of cases reached 303.