South Korea Issues Highest Travel Warning for Parts of Cambodia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea has issued its highest travel warning, effectively a travel ban, for several regions in Cambodia, citing severe safety risks tied to organized crime targeting Koreans. The ministry also raised travel alerts for nearby areas as authorities move to protect citizens from escalating violence and fraud-related incidents.

According to Seoul, multiple Cambodian cities and provinces linked to major criminal activities involving Koreans have now been designated as no-travel zones. South Korean nationals currently in or planning to visit these restricted areas have been urged to cancel all travel plans immediately, with officials warning that those who enter off-limit regions may face legal penalties upon return.

The move follows a shocking incident in which a Korean man was tortured to death in Cambodia. Korean media outlets have since interviewed several young Koreans who escaped illegal detentions, describing horrific conditions — including torture rooms where captors allegedly burned victims’ flesh with electric shockers and beat them with iron pipes. Many of the victims were lured by fraudulent online job ads promising high-paying positions, only to be forced into scam operations upon arrival.

In response, a joint government task force has been dispatched to Cambodia to coordinate directly with local authorities. The team aims to assist in the rescue of abducted Koreans and to strengthen cooperation on ongoing investigations into illegal detentions and human trafficking rings.

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Cambodian officials confirmed they are currently holding over 80 Koreans suspected of involvement in online fraud schemes, though many are refusing repatriation — reportedly due to Seoul’s tougher legal stance against citizens involved in overseas crime. South Korean authorities estimate that around 1,000 Koreans have been exploited or entangled in fraud operations across Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Cambodian law enforcement stated that although Koreans were among the participants, the ringleader is believed to be a Chinese national running illegal operations across Cambodia and Laos.

The South Korea Cambodia travel warning underscores the government’s growing concern over organized crime in the region and its commitment to protecting citizens abroad from trafficking and cyber-fraud networks.

Source: (1)