Kim Chang Yong, South Korean ambassador to Cambodia, has invited a Cambodian delegation to visit Korea this coming June to promote the Kingdom’s investment landscape, potentially attracting Korean investors.
The newly appointed ambassador raised the idea during a March 12 meeting with Sun Chanthol, first vice-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).
Chanthol expressed his gratitude for the continued support of the Korean government and people for Cambodia’s socio-economic development, particularly the establishment of the Cambodia–Korea bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
He noted that the two nations upgraded their bilateral relations to a “Strategic Partnership” in 2024.
“Although Cambodia and Korea already cooperate in many sectors, we still have great potential to further strengthen relations and investment cooperation both bilaterally and regionally, because Korea is a developed country with extensive experience in many sectors, especially in technology and trade,” he said.
He also informed the Korean delegation that both parties had agreed to hold the third Cambodia–Korea Public-Private Dialogue on April 8.
Yong praised the CDC and requested Chanthol’s support for preparations to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and the Republic of Korea next year.
“I promise to promote large investment projects to invest in Cambodia in order to achieve greater results. I would also like to request and invite [Chanthol] to lead a Cambodian delegation to visit Korea this coming June to attract investors,” he said.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), during the first two months of 2026, trade between Cambodia and Korea reached $157.6 million, up 10.6% over the same period in 2025. Exports reached $65.74 million (up 21.5%), while imports totalled $91.86 million (up 3.9%).
Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on March 13 that since Cambodia and South Korea have strong diplomatic relations, trade activities between the two countries are also positive. For Cambodia, besides earning revenue from exports to Korea, many Cambodian workers are also employed in Korea.
“I am optimistic that the value of trade between the two countries will continue to grow, because in addition to being members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the two countries also have a bilateral free trade agreement,” he said.
