Korean lawmakers criticized the Korean Embassy Response in Cambodia on Wednesday after reports of kidnappings and confinement involving Korean nationals. The National Intelligence Service estimated that up to 2,000 Koreans may be involved in scam operations across Cambodia.
During an audit at the Phnom Penh embassy, members of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee questioned officials about what they called serious lapses in protecting citizens abroad. Lawmakers said the embassy had responded slowly to hundreds of cases over the past two years.
The embassy reported that of 550 abduction and confinement cases, around 100 remain unresolved. Officials said 450 cases ended following rescues or releases. Lawmakers emphasized that families and civic groups repeatedly appealed for faster action.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea attributed delays to administrative strain after former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law last December. Opposition members accused the government of failing to act. Representative Song Eon-seog of the People Power Party criticized the lack of direct communication with Cambodian authorities. “Neither the prime minister nor the foreign minister contacted Cambodia, despite mounting cases,” he said.
DPK lawmaker Yoon Hu-duk acknowledged embassy strain, noting staff resignations due to stress. “Handling 30 to 80 cases monthly with a dozen staff is extremely challenging,” he said. Embassy chargé d’affaires Kim Hyun-soo confirmed ongoing coordination with Cambodian authorities and availability of a 24-hour emergency hotline.
Lawmakers debated establishing a permanent Korean desk with Cambodian law enforcement to streamline procedures for abduction cases. Meanwhile, the NIS reported that Chinese criminal groups run scam operations in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, controlling 50 compounds and employing 200,000 people. Investigations linked the murder of a Korean student in Kampot Province to a prior Seoul drug case.
The crisis has sparked political debate in Seoul. The DPK criticized the prior administration for prioritizing aid over citizen safety, while the PPP called for direct engagement with Beijing to address the Chinese-run syndicates.
Experts note that the Korean Embassy Response in Cambodia now faces urgent scrutiny, as lawmakers push for improved coordination, permanent liaison structures, and faster citizen protection measures.
