'Doubling Every Year' Was No Coincidence... Surge in Emergency Passports Issued in Cambodia Was a Warning Sign

31 Cases in 2022 → 88 in 2023 → 190 in 2024
151 Cases Issued by September This Year... Expected to Surpass Last Year's Level
Kim Sangwook: "Clearly a Complacent Response"

The number of emergency passports issued by the Korean Embassy in Cambodia has reportedly doubled each year since 2023. As emergency passports are typically issued abroad due to reasons such as loss, the increase in their issuance suggests growing concerns about local security for Korean nationals. This has led to criticism that the authorities failed to respond appropriately despite clear warning signs.

As incidents of kidnapping and confinement of Koreans in Cambodia continue, the government has taken measures. On the 16th (local time), barbed wire was laid along the outer wall of the Taeja Complex, known as a crime zone near Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Seoul Shinmun and the office of Assemblyman Kim Sangwook of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 23rd, the Korean Embassy in Cambodia issued 190 emergency passports last year, more than double the 88 cases from the previous year. Considering that only 31 were issued in 2022, the number tripled in 2023 and surged nearly sixfold compared to 2022. By September of this year, 151 emergency passports had already been issued, and at this rate, the total is expected to surpass last year’s figure.

Testimonies from actual victims and findings from the prosecution’s investigation indicate that upon arrival in Cambodia, victims had their mobile phones and passports confiscated. Given that most victims provided similar accounts, it is reasonable to conclude that these actions were intended to prevent escape.

Koreans detained for involvement in online fraud in Cambodia were repatriated through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 18th. About 190 police escort officers were deployed for the repatriation. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The circumstances differ from those involving emergency passports issued domestically. In Korea, emergency passports are typically issued at airports such as Incheon or Gimpo when passports are lost due to simple mistakes or left at home. While emergency passports can also be issued abroad due to loss, the sharp annual increase in cases suggests that more Korean nationals are becoming involved in criminal incidents overseas.

Assemblyman Kim Sangwook stated, “If the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were fully aware of these abnormal signs but failed to take preemptive action, this is clearly a complacent response.” He added, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must thoroughly reassess the response system at local missions and strengthen practical measures to protect our citizens.”