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For many young Koreans, it seems like going abroad is a great opportunity for them to study or find job. However, in other cases, going abroad comes as an inevitable choice and even disaster as recent kidnapping cases in Southeast Asia have recently grown. Cambodian kidnapping incidents especially highlights an urgent need for proper diplomatic actions and negotiations.
Between the end of 2024 and 2025, a Korean university student flew to Cambodia for a high-paying job. However, in October 2025, it was revealed that he was forcibly taken by an illegal voice scam organization, imprisoned, tortured, and even suffered a terrible death. Although this event happened a few months ago, Korean news outlets have begun to cover it in real time after the result of the investigation in Cambodia and the recent autopsy report. After the kidnapping in Cambodia happened, a number of Korean confinement and kidnap reports which had been veiled were finally uncovered. The number of reports of kidnapped Koreans between 2022 and 2023 was about 10 to 20 cases.However, there were 220 cases in 2024, and 330 cases as of August 2025. The once veiled reports show that these instances of illegal employment happened repeatedly and brought about terrible consequences.
At this point, one question remained. What exactly caused such a tragic and delayed response? The key point is the reality of Korea’s unemployment crisis.
Since the lack of suitable jobs, the reduction of new recruitment because of economic recession, and wage reduction has increased, young people depressed with employment prospects in Korea began to find high-paying jobs in other countries at the risk of unpredictable danger.
Secondly, it must be considered whether the responses of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassy were appropriate or not. While it is true that the incident happened overseas, the government institutions merely behaved cautiously as there were no particular information or proven facts. And since there was also the possibility that the people could have been involved in local crime (which is related to diplomatic disputes with Cambodia) they decided to neglect the issue
From another perspective, however, I believe that since the victims arepeople with overwhelming financial need, not any executive or big company employees, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t take appropriate action because they didn’t react instantly. Some confinement victims insisted that the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs took only a reactive response to the incident without any guarantee of safety for the people. At a life-or-death situation, rescuing one’s own citizens is not only a key duty but also a required action for a country. But in reality, they often fail to perform their duties.They overlook the incidents like those in Cambodia as “missing” cases only, and don’t take any helpful actions. Even if the incidents are related profoundly to the complex impacts of international relations. For now, the government and embassy must be reestablished for the stable relationship among such countries.
Due to the fact that Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs chose non-response to the kidnappings, their system should be reformed to work sincerely for the people. And for the sake of any remaining victims, diplomatic negotiations must inevitably be worked out to ensure rapid intervention and the protection of citizens regardless of rank or status. If we fail to learn from what has happened, tragedies will not end simply. The consequences of neglect would massively provoke widespread debate. It is a pivotal time to protect our citizens and country with diplomatic actions.
This tragedy in Cambodia shows deeper flaws within the system of Korea’s employment crisis and diplomacy. These disasters have been occurring more often and becoming hard to manage. We can not afford to ignore these incidents merely as unfortune “disappearances”. Not only is a foundation that can guarantee stable employment for the young needed, but one that guarantees the proper actions by the government. It is time for the government to reestablish its true value and reflect on reality. We need a proactive diplomacy, not a reactive one. These kidnapping incidents reminded us of Korea’s flaws, which must never happen again.
By Staff Reporter Park Yeeun (1-2)
