"Was Thinking of Visiting During Chuseok, but 'Shocking'... Abduction in Broad Daylight at City Cafe Triggers Travel Advisory"

Korean Man Kidnapped and Tortured in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Four Chinese Nationals and One Cambodian Arrested
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Raises Phnom Penh Travel Advisory to Level 2

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a Korean man in his 50s was kidnapped and tortured, and local police have arrested four Chinese nationals and one Cambodian.

Recently, the Khmer Times reported, "Under the direction of Choun Narin, Deputy National Police Chief and Chief of Phnom Penh Municipal Police, the Phnom Penh police investigated the case of the Korean man being detained and tortured, and apprehended four Chinese nationals and one Cambodian."

The victim has been identified as Ha, a 51-year-old Korean man. The arrested suspects are Zhao Yunlong (Chinese, 37), Xu Tonghui (Chinese, 39), Dou Yongzhi (Chinese, 45), Zheng Mingjie (Chinese, 41), and Phun Buthi (Cambodian, 35, driver).

An incident occurred in downtown Cambodia where a Korean man in his 50s was kidnapped and tortured. Photo by Getty Images

The incident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. on September 21. The victim visited a cafe in Boeung Keng Kang, Phnom Penh, driving a white Toyota Prius. At around 9:50 p.m., as he was returning to his car, he was abducted by suspects who arrived in a black vehicle. Boeung Keng Kang is a prominent district in Phnom Penh known for its luxury hotels, restaurants, cafes, and shopping malls.

A security guard at the scene reported the incident to the police. The local investigation team reviewed CCTV footage and discovered that the suspects attempted to retrieve the victim's vehicle, which led to the arrest of Zhao Yunlong. Subsequently, at around 5:00 p.m. on September 22, police apprehended the remaining four suspects at a hotel in Phnom Penh.

During the search conducted immediately after the arrests, police found one K54 semi-automatic pistol, two magazines, nine rounds of live ammunition, one metal pipe, three walkie-talkies, one rubber holster for a pistol, 112 tablets of narcotics, two passports, and parts of a drug inhaler. While the exact motive for the kidnapping has not been revealed, there are suspicions that the crime was premeditated. Police are currently holding the five suspects in temporary detention and plan to refer the case to the court.

Phnom Penh Royal Palace, Cambodia. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Cambodia Tourism Board

With crimes targeting Koreans continuing in Cambodia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs adjusted the travel advisory level for Cambodia on September 16. As a result, Phnom Penh has been raised to Level 2 (Travel Caution), and Sihanoukville, Bokor Mountain in Kampot, and Bavet City have been elevated to a Special Travel Advisory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that citizens planning to visit these areas cancel or postpone their trips, and urges those currently staying in these regions to move to safer areas.