South Korea Issues Travel Ban After Crime Surge in Cambodia

South Korea has imposed its highest-level travel restriction on specific regions of Cambodia following a surge in criminal activities targeting its citizens. The unprecedented “code black” warning mandates the immediate evacuation of South Korean nationals from the border towns of Poipet and Bavet, as well as the Bokor Mountain region in Kampot province.

The situation has reached critical proportions, with approximately 60 South Korean citizens currently in Cambodian custody following anti-scam operations, while authorities cannot locate an additional 80 individuals. The gravity of the crisis was underscored by the death of a 22-year-old Korean student in August, who allegedly died from torture in the Bokor Mountain area.

South Korean Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac has established an emergency taskforce to coordinate repatriation efforts. However, the government acknowledges that returning citizens may face legal consequences depending on their involvement in criminal activities.

The criminal networks operating in these regions have demonstrated increasingly sophisticated methods of deception, typically luring victims with promises of lucrative employment opportunities. Once trapped, victims are confined in compounds and forced to participate in fraudulent online operations.

Survivors who managed to escape have provided disturbing accounts of their captivity. Reports indicate systematic abuse, including electric shock torture and severe beatings administered by compound supervisors. Some witnesses describe even more sinister activities, including alleged organ trafficking of victims who could no longer work or provide financial value to their captors.

In response to the escalating crisis, a high-level South Korean delegation has arrived in Phnom Penh. Led by Second Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Jina, the team includes representatives from justice, police, and intelligence agencies. Their primary objective is to facilitate the safe return of detained citizens, potentially through chartered flights.

The situation is further complicated by reports that some detained individuals are resistant to repatriation. Additionally, authorities are investigating a possible connection between these criminal networks and the recent death of a Korean woman near the Vietnam-Cambodia border.

The scale of the crisis has prompted domestic policy changes in South Korea. Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon has announced initiatives to strengthen screening processes for overseas job advertisements, working directly with recruitment websites to prevent fraudulent postings.

Security officials estimate that approximately 1,000 South Korean citizens have become entangled in Cambodia’s extensive scam operations. This crisis represents one of the most significant challenges to South Korean citizen safety abroad in recent years, requiring unprecedented diplomatic and security measures to protect its nationals.

The South Korean government continues to warn citizens against travel to these regions and emphasizes the severe risks associated with pursuing employment opportunities in Cambodia’s border areas.