Seoul summoned Cambodian envoy after student’s torture death

South Korea has summoned the Cambodian ambassador to express grave concern over a surge in job scams and the illegal detention and alleged torture of its nationals, following the death of a 22-year-old student who is believed to have been beaten and tortured to death after being lured by a fake job offer.

South Korea’s foreign minister, Cho Hyun, said in a statement on Friday that he summonsed Ambassador Khuon Phon Rattanak to express grave concern over the increasing cases of job fraud and forced confinement involving South Korean nationals in Cambodia.

He urged swift and concrete action to eliminate online scams, calling for stronger measures to prevent another tragic loss of life and for closer cooperation between police authorities.

The college student found dead in Cambodia in August entered the country on July 17 and is believed to have died of a heart attack two weeks later, during or after being tortured.

His family said they received a ransom call, demanding 50 million won (~US$38,500) soon after his arrival.

South Korean police say they plan to conduct a joint autopsy with Cambodian authorities.

The incident has fueled public outrage in South Korea, amid a surge in similar crimes.

The number of reported kidnappings of South Koreans in Cambodia, previously averaging fewer than 20 cases a year, jumped to 220 in 2024 and 330 as of August 2025, according to lawmaker Na Kyung-won.

Many victims are believed to have been deceived by online job offers promising high salaries, only to end up being detained and abused by organised criminal groups.

Amnesty International has reported that abuses in Cambodia’s scam centers occur on a “mass scale,” identifying at least 53 specific locations involved in human trafficking, forced labour, torture and slavery. The rights group accused the Cambodian government of being “acquiescent” and “complicit” in the exploitation of thousands of workers.

Meanwhile, on October 10, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced that the travel alert level for Phnom Penh had been raised from Level 2 (Refrain from Travel) to a Special Travel Advisory, to protect South Korean citizens, and urged travellers to cancel or postpone non-essential trips.

The announcement covers Phnom Penh and several other provinces, including Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Preah Sihanouk, while the rest of Cambodia remains under Level 1 (Exercise Caution).

The South Korean government said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and consider further adjustments to its travel advisories as and when necessary.