The National Police have countered South Korean media claims that as many as 80 Korean citizens are unaccounted for in Cambodia, noting that they have “intervened” in 35 cases involving 40 South Koreans so far this year.
In an October 16 statement, the police explained that throughout the year, they have continuously received intervention requests from the South Korean embassy in Cambodia, the individuals themselves or their families.
“As a result of cooperation in investigation, inquiry and intervention on these requests, Cambodian authorities have responsibly fulfilled the work and achieved concrete outcomes in 35 cases, involving 40 persons (including four women). This figure includes the [80] cases mentioned by The Korea Times,” said the release.
The police statement did not specify what the “concrete outcomes” were, but noted that they are continuing joint efforts to investigate additional requests, in order to establish the facts and strengthen ties between the two countries.
An October 14 article in the The Korea Times said that “as of August 2025, approximately 80 South Korean nationals are unaccounted for in Cambodia”.
The police explained that that they are working in cooperation at both technical and legal-procedural levels with the relevant authorities, the embassy, the individuals concerned and their families.
These joint investigations aim to clarifying the facts, ensuring accuracy and strengthening the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation in security and public order.
Following the August murder of South Korean citizen Park Minho, 22, in Kampot province, several Korean media outlets have focused on incidents involving their citizens who have become involved with foreign-operated but Cambodia-based scam operations.
The South Korean government has issued travel warnings for parts of Cambodia which it says host scam operations, including a total ban on its citizens visiting the border towns of Poipet and Bavet, as well as Bokor Mountain, where Park was slain.
The Cambodian National Police expressed concerns that ongoing reporting could lead to misunderstandings about the incidenst and potentially affect cooperation between the police forces of both countries — especially with regard to comments by made by acting police chief Yoo Jae-sung and the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Regarding this case [of Park], we have conducted investigations and followed procedures in accordance with the law and official process. We are continuing technical and procedural cooperation with judicial institutions, particularly with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Cambodia, to respond to Korean requests in establishing the truth of the case in accordance with Cambodian law,” it noted.
Two Chinese men, Li Xingpeng, 35, and Zhu Renzhe, 43, were taken into custody when they were discovered transporting the body of Park, while another suspect was able to flee the scene. Chinese man Liu Haoxing, 29, was arrested when police searched the villa the three men shard with Park. Evidence of online scam operations was discovered at the scene.
All three of the men were charged with murder and are being held in pre-trial detention at the Kampot Provincial Prison. The police are continuing to search for their associates.
