Seoul: The cremated remains of a South Korean university student, who was allegedly tortured to death by a criminal organization in Cambodia, are set to be returned to South Korea this week, police confirmed on Monday. The National Police Agency (NPA) announced that the remains of the 22-year-old student, identified by the surname Park, are scheduled to depart from Cambodia at 11:30 p.m. local time on Monday and are expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport by 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Korean time. The family will receive his remains upon their arrival.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean and Cambodian authorities conducted a joint autopsy on Park’s body earlier in the day at a temple in Phnom Penh. Park had been found dead in August near Bokor Mountain, a location known for scams and detentions targeting South Koreans. The autopsy, which began at 10:35 a.m. local time, took three hours to complete, after which cremation commenced at 1:40 p.m. Park’s body had been stored at the temple’s morgue for over two months. Despite the autopsy, no damage was found on the body, and the exact cause of death will be determined after further examinations in South Korea.
The student’s death has caused significant public concern in South Korea, leading the government to dispatch a delegation to Cambodia last week to address crimes against its citizens. The NPA emphasized that the cause of Park’s death remains undetermined but will be verified after comprehensive investigations, including tissue examination and drug and toxin tests in South Korea.
Park traveled to Cambodia on July 17, allegedly to attend an exhibition. He was found deceased inside a car on August 8, showing signs of torture, as reported by local police. On October 10, Cambodian authorities charged three Chinese nationals with Park’s murder, and local police are actively searching for two additional suspects involved in the crime. A key suspect, accused of persuading Park to open a bank account and facilitating his travel to Cambodia, has recently been arrested in South Korea.