The recent tragic death of South Korean university student Park Min-ho has triggered a political storm and diplomatic crisis. Relations between South Korea and Cambodia have become strained in the process. The 22-year-old was allegedly lured to Cambodia by a human trafficking scam operation, only to be tortured and murdered. His body has lay in Cambodia for more than two months since his passing. This new development has raised immediate alarm over the safety of South Korean citizens abroad, in particular.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has requested “all-out” diplomatic efforts to rescue citizens from Cambodia. At a recent cabinet meeting, he emphasized that “protecting the lives and safety of citizens is the government’s greatest responsibility.” His government is currently in negotiations to establish a “Korean desk” in Cambodia. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want to send police there and that they don’t want their citizens to be protected.
The disturbing increase in the kidnapping of South Koreans in Cambodia highlights the importance of holding such a summit. According to national reports, the number of cases jumped from 17 in 2022 to 220 last year. By August of this year, the number had increased in a surge of 330 cases. Victims are lured with the prospects of high-paying jobs, then are held captive in compounds. Those who refuse to take part in the fraud allegedly endure extreme violence, including beatings and electric shocks.
By South Korea’s national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, has already given an unequivocal answer to what just happened. Moreover, he has created an emergency task force to secure the swift repatriation of their citizens affected by scams. As a result, the South Korean government has raised travel warnings for Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Bokor Mountain to special advisories. We’re asking drivers to be on very high alert when driving in these new hotspots.
Lee Un-ju, a senior Democratic Party lawmaker to call for strong measures. He thinks this will be needed if Cambodia continues to not address, especially, South Korea’s issues sufficiently. What people are mad about is how Park Min-ho’s case has been treated. This frustration epitomizes the broader fears for the safety of South Korean nationals abroad.
In relation to Park’s unfortunate passing, three Chinese nationals have been indicted on murder charges and cyber fraud. While Cambodia’s interior ministry has disputed some media reports regarding the case, they acknowledged that they did not receive complaints from Park Min-ho’s family or the South Korean embassy before police discovered his body.
The South Korean government seeks to hold a third joint autopsy on Park Min-ho’s body. This new effort aims to set the record about his death straight. This request highlights the deepening divide between the two nations. Through its extensive advocacy efforts, South Korea is calling on Japan to be held accountable and for soliciting justice for its citizens.
“Protecting the lives and safety of citizens is the government’s greatest responsibility.” – Lee Jae Myung
As tensions escalate, both governments are under pressure to address the rampant issue of scams and kidnappings that have plagued South Korean citizens in Cambodia. The result of these diplomatic discussions could lay the groundwork for Park Min-ho’s legacy. It will likely impact the future safety of countless South Koreans flying overseas.