Ministry of Interior Spokesperson Speaks to Xinhua News Agency
Statement Follows Foreign Ministry’s Estimate of 80 Missing South Koreans
Cambodian Government: “No Shifting Blame or Emotional Responses Toward Specific Countries”
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On the 14th (local time), a building suspected to be a crime complex in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. 2025.10.14 Yonhap News Agency
The Cambodian government has announced that approximately 80 South Koreans are being detained by Cambodian immigration authorities, and that these individuals are refusing to return to their home country.
On October 15 (local time), Touch Sokhak, spokesperson for Cambodia's Ministry of Interior, stated in an interview with China's Xinhua News Agency, "South Korean government officials have approached them, but the 80 South Koreans have refused to return to Korea." He added, "This is the initial information I have received," and noted, "It is not yet clear whether the 80 missing persons reported by the Korean media are the same individuals as the 80 currently detained by immigration authorities." This statement came after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea estimated that at least 80 South Koreans are currently out of contact in Cambodia.
The Cambodian government has expressed concern over rising anti-Cambodian sentiment in South Korea. On October 14 (local time), state-run AKP News Agency reported that the Cambodian government called for continued international cooperation to combat cross-border crimes, especially online scams. Regarding the recent murder of a young South Korean in Kampot Province, the Cambodian government emphasized the need for cooperation rather than shifting blame to a particular country or responding emotionally. The Ministry of Interior also released a statement on October 13, stressing, "To effectively eradicate this global crime, intergovernmental cooperation must be strengthened," and warning that "emotional responses or blaming other countries only provide criminals with further opportunities to commit crimes."
Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is responding to a question from Yoon Hoo-duk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding crimes against Koreans in Cambodia during the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee’s audit held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on October 13, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Spokesperson Sokhak also refuted some foreign media reports. He stated, "Cambodian authorities have not received any official reports or information requests from the victims' families or the Korean Embassy in Cambodia." This contradicts a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong, which claimed that the victims' families had sought help through the embassy and local police. The Ministry of Interior further stated, "Cambodian authorities are working closely with the Korean Embassy to carry out the necessary procedures, and are making every effort to track down and arrest the remaining suspects and accomplices to ensure justice is served."
The local Cambodian response has been similar. Sem Sokheng, president of the Cambodia Korean Tour Guide Association, told the Phnom Penh Post, "Cambodia is not a dangerous country for ordinary visitors, especially Korean tourists. All of these recent incidents have involved individuals connected to scam organizations." He added that he had recently led a group of Korean tourists for ten days, and "all the guests felt that Cambodia was safe; although they had heard about scams before coming, there were no actual problems." He especially noted, "Most of the victims were not tourists but individuals who were deceived or extorted after applying for illegal jobs online." He expressed regret that "the Korean leader (President) did not distinguish between scam organization cases and general tourism." He also emphasized that the Korean government should strengthen education for its citizens about online scam tactics such as 'high-paying job offers.'
Cambodian authorities' joint task force fighting against 'online scam' criminal organizations revealed the Chinese nationals arrested during a crackdown operation conducted in Kampot Province last August, according to Cambodia's state-run AKP News Agency. Yonhap News
Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, also commented, "The Korean government should provide guidance to its citizens for all overseas travel, rather than singling out a specific country." He stressed, "Diplomatic pressure from Korea will only worsen relations between the two countries, and since crimes such as scams, abductions, and torture are cross-border issues, they can only be resolved through bilateral cooperation."
Meanwhile, a response team led by Kim Jinah, the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to depart for Phnom Penh on the afternoon of October 14. Officials from the National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, and National Intelligence Service will also join the team. The response team is arranging meetings with high-level Cambodian officials on site.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, attending the United Nations General Assembly high-level session, is having a meeting and taking a commemorative photo with Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, in New York, USA, on September 24 (local time). Photo by Yonhap News Agency
The response team is expected to urge Cambodian authorities to cooperate in the investigation of the torture and death of a South Korean university student last August, and to discuss procedures for autopsy, repatriation of remains, and joint investigation. In addition, they are expected to negotiate the repatriation of South Koreans detained by local authorities. Currently, 63 individuals are reported to be detained, and the police plan to bring back those for whom arrest warrants have been issued first. However, since a significant number of them are insisting on remaining in Cambodia, it is unclear how quickly the repatriation process can proceed. The government is considering deploying a chartered flight to facilitate their return to Korea.
The government is reportedly planning to dispatch Park Il, former ambassador to Lebanon, to oversee embassy operations locally. Since the ambassador post in Cambodia is currently vacant and immediate appointments are difficult, it appears that a high-level envoy will be sent to manage the situation.
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