The death of a South Korean student in Cambodia, leading to Seoul summoning the Cambodian ambassador, is set to dent tourism and Phnom Penh’s reputation in the eyes of the Korean public, but ties between both sides may not be drastically affected, according to analysts.
Last Friday, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun summoned the Cambodian ambassador in Seoul to protest the death of the student, linked to an employment scam in Cambodia. Cho also called for stronger measures to tackle the rising number of online scams and kidnappings targeting South Koreans.
On Tuesday, Cho’s ministry noted that 80 South Koreans who were possible victims of fake jobs or scam centres were unaccounted for in Cambodia.
Between January and August this year, 330 South Koreans were reported to have gone missing or been held against their will after entering Cambodia. As of August, “the safety of about 80 people has yet to be verified”, a foreign ministry official said.
Previously averaging 10 to 20 cases a year, the number of reported kidnappings or confinement of South Koreans in Cambodia rose to 220 last year, according to lawmaker Na Kyung-won’s office. Many were reportedly lured there by fraudulent job offers promising high pay.
