South Korea is intensifying its diplomatic efforts to safeguard its citizens in Cambodia, following the tragic death of a university student who was allegedly lured by a scam ring and tortured. President Lee Jae Myung emphasized during a cabinet meeting that protecting the lives and safety of citizens is the government's paramount responsibility, calling for the swift repatriation of all scam victims. This urgent response comes amidst a significant surge in kidnappings of South Koreans in Cambodia, prompting national security adviser Wi Sung-lac to establish an emergency task force dedicated to the immediate return of affected individuals.

Victims are typically enticed to Cambodia with promises of lucrative employment opportunities. However, upon arrival, they are confined within compounds and coerced into participating in online fraud schemes, particularly voice phishing. Eyewitness accounts from rescued victims, shared with lawmaker Park Chan-dae and reported by Yonhap News, reveal a horrifying reality: those who resist are subjected to severe beatings with pipes and electric shock devices.

The deceased student, identified by Cambodian authorities as 22-year-old Park Min-ho, remains in Cambodia over two months after his death. His family, last seeing him in mid-July as he left for what he claimed was an exhibition, received a ransom call demanding 50 million won (£26,000) a week later. Contact soon ceased, and two weeks later, his body was discovered near Bokor Mountain in Kampot province, an area notorious for crime compounds and human trafficking. Cambodia's interior ministry confirmed that an investigation and preliminary autopsy indicated the student died from "severe torture," showing bruising across his body. A fellow confined witness later rescued corroborated this, stating Park was so severely beaten he could neither walk nor breathe, ultimately dying in a vehicle en route to a hospital.

In connection with Park's death, Cambodian prosecutors have charged three Chinese nationals with murder and online fraud, while two additional suspects remain at large. The prolonged retention of Park Min-ho's remains in cold storage has caused immense distress for his family, who describe the situation as "killing him twice." South Korea is actively seeking to conduct a joint autopsy to further investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

Amidst rising diplomatic tensions, South Korea is proposing to send its police to Cambodia to establish a "Korean desk." This initiative aims to enable South Korean officers to collaborate directly with Cambodian police, bypassing the current reliance on embassy officials. Both nations are scheduled to meet next week to discuss this proposal. While the Cambodian interior ministry has disputed certain media reports, stating they did not receive complaints from Park's family or the Korean embassy before his body was discovered, they affirm their cooperation with Korean officials in the ongoing investigation.

The case has illuminated a dramatic escalation in kidnappings involving South Koreans in Cambodia. Data provided by the foreign ministry to parliament shows a stark increase from 17 reported cases in 2023 to 220 last year, with an alarming 330 recorded by August of the current year. In response, South Korea has elevated travel warnings for critical areas including Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Bokor Mountain, urging citizens to reconsider non-essential travel. Furthermore, Amnesty International recently identified 53 large-scale scam compounds in Cambodia, alleging that government inaction has facilitated these operations.