• South Korea summons Cambodian ambassador over increasing job scams and kidnappings.
• The number of reported kidnappings of South Koreans in Cambodia surged drastically.
• A South Korean student was recently tortured and killed, raising alarms.
• Seoul has issued a special travel advisory for Phnom Penh.
• Amnesty International reports widespread abuses related to scam operations in Cambodia.

South Korea summoned the Cambodian ambassador, Khuon Phon Rattanak, following a significant rise in reports of kidnappings and job scams targeting its nationals in Cambodia. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed serious concerns over the death of a South Korean college student linked to an employment scam, urging immediate action from the Cambodian government to combat these issues, which had become a "grave concern" for Seoul, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The number of reported kidnappings of South Koreans in Cambodia has escalated dramatically. From an average of 10 to 20 cases annually, it surged to 220 last year and reached 330 by August 2025, according to lawmaker Na Kyung-won's office. Many victims are reportedly lured by fraudulent job offers promising lucrative pay, highlighting a troubling trend that has alarmed the South Korean public, according to The Jakarta Post and Channel News Asia.

The shocking death of the South Korean student, who was reported to have been tortured to death by a local criminal organization, has intensified calls for action. Reports imply that the victim succumbed to a heart attack that resulted from torture and extreme conditions, prompting Foreign Minister Cho to call for "swift and concrete action" to eradicate online scams. The South Korean foreign ministry has consequently issued a special travel advisory for Phnom Penh to safeguard its citizens, according to Reuters and The Jakarta Post.

In light of these events, Amnesty International has reported that abuses in Cambodia's scam centers are occurring on a "mass scale", with at least 53 known scam compounds operated by organized crime groups. These centers have been involved in human trafficking, forced labor, and other forms of exploitation, raising serious humanitarian concerns. The organization has accused the Cambodian government of being complicit in these exploitative practices, according to Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.