Cambodian Government Social Media Video
"The News Is Not Everything About This Country"
"What you see in the news is not everything about this country. I am living peacefully and gratefully in Cambodia."
Amid growing social concerns over the "kidnapping and confinement of Koreans in Cambodia," the Cambodian Ministry of Interior has emphasized that "Cambodia is a peaceful and warm country" by featuring Korean women. This move is interpreted as an attempt to dispel concerns about crime against Koreans in Cambodia, following a series of crime reports involving Korean nationals.
"Life in Cambodia is happy"...Promoting with Korean women
Korean women residing in Cambodia. Screenshot from the Cambodian Ministry of Interior Facebook video
On October 14, the Cambodian Ministry of Interior posted a video featuring a Korean woman on its official social media account, along with a message stating, "We are sharing the experiences of Koreans who have lived in Cambodia for 13 years with Koreans and people around the world."
The woman in the video, who introduced herself in Korean as someone running a cafe in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, began by saying, "It has already been 13 years since I started living here." She continued, "Although there have been many worrying stories about Cambodia in the news recently, the reality of my life here is very different from that." She emphasized that daily life in Cambodia is not the "den of crime" often depicted by Korean media.
She added, "Of course, there are challenges in every country, but for us, Cambodia remains a peaceful place filled with warmth in people's hearts. That is why I am truly happy and content living here." She concluded, "What you see in the news is not everything about this country. I am living peacefully and gratefully in Cambodia."
Promoting 'Aid for Conflict Victims'...Appealing for Korean Participation
On October 15, the Cambodian Ministry of Interior posted another message featuring a different Korean woman. Cambodia is currently experiencing a border dispute with Thailand, and the post informed Koreans residing in Cambodia about fundraising activities to help Cambodians affected by the conflict. This woman, who stated she is active in Cambodia, said, "I love Cambodia. I believe that all Koreans living in this land are closely watching and worrying about the current situation caused by the conflict and its victims."
She continued, "I would like to inform you about blood donation campaigns and fundraising activities being held to support Cambodian soldiers and citizens affected by the conflict." She added, "If you wish to help Cambodians suffering in the conflict zone, you can bring donations such as bottled water and daily necessities to the Toul Kork Market in Phnom Penh."
Locally in Cambodia, there has been a message expressing regret toward the Korean government. Sem Sokheng, president of the Cambodian Korean Tour Guides Association, said in an interview with the Phnom Penh Post, "It is regrettable that the Korean government has failed to distinguish between crime and tourism," and argued, "What the Korean government should do is educate its citizens about online scams, especially those involving high-paying job offers, and how to prevent them." The Cambodian Ministry of Interior stated, "We understand the feelings of Korean victims, but we also hope you understand that Cambodia has also been a victim of crime."
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