"Don't Board That Flight"... Airline Staff Stops Teen from Departing for Cambodia

A Young Man Tempted by High-Paying Job Offers
Decides Not to Depart After Airline Staff's Persuasion

A teenage male who was about to depart for Cambodia from Incheon International Airport decided not to leave the country after being persuaded by airline staff. It was reported that this student, currently on a leave of absence from school, had planned to visit Cambodia in search of a high-paying job.

Amid controversy over the abduction and detention of a Korean in Cambodia, on the 15th, counterterrorism task force officers from the Incheon International Airport Police Unit were standing by at the boarding gate for flights to Cambodia at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the office of Park Chan-dae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, on the afternoon of October 14, an 18-year-old college student, referred to as Mr. A, who was about to board a Korean Air flight to Phnom Penh at Incheon International Airport, canceled his departure after being dissuaded by Park Jinhee, service manager of the Korean Air check-in team, and others. This incident occurred a day before police officers were deployed at the boarding gates of Incheon International Airport on October 15.

Ms. Park became suspicious when she noticed that Mr. A’s flight ticket information included a Chinese country code (+86) and that he possessed only a one-way ticket purchased with an emergency passport. She questioned him about the purpose of his trip. At that time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued a special travel advisory for the Phnom Penh area, recommending that people cancel or postpone their visits unless absolutely necessary.

Mr. A, who had come from Busan, reportedly said that he was on a leave of absence from school because he needed money, and that a close friend who had emigrated to China during elementary school had invited him to visit Cambodia, assuring that he would return soon.

When Ms. Park asked him, "Are you aware of the current social issues?" Mr. A replied, "I spoke with my mother, and she told me to be careful and to call immediately if anything happens."

The airline staff explained to Mr. A that he would need a round-trip ticket to depart for Phnom Penh, so he purchased a round-trip ticket and began the departure process again. However, he ultimately went to the airport information desk himself and asked them to call 112, the emergency number.

After receiving the report, police officers responded and advised Mr. A on how to protect himself from potential retaliation, including how to cancel his resident registration and close his bank accounts.

Even while the police were speaking with Mr. A, it was reported that he received threatening phone calls on his mobile phone urging him to "leave the country quickly."

Upon learning of Mr. A’s case, Assemblyman Park’s office sent an official letter on October 15 to Incheon International Airport Corporation and travel agencies, requesting that they inform travelers departing for Cambodia about potential dangers.

Assemblyman Park Chan-dae stated, "This is a case where the careful observation of an airline staff member saved a young person from an overseas employment scam," and added, "Just as bank tellers help prevent voice phishing, airports, airlines, and travel agencies should also proactively provide guidance if they detect any suspicious signs before departure."