Cambodian authorities have pledged to strengthen cooperation with South Korea following the death of a South Korean student allegedly kidnapped and tortured by a criminal gang in southern Cambodia. The announcement comes amid growing international concern over cross-border crime and online fraud in the region.

The victim, 22-year-old Park Min-ho, was found dead in August in a pickup truck near Bokor Mountain in Kampot province. Cambodian authorities reported that Park died of cardiac arrest following severe torture and beatings. According to South Korean media, Park had told his family he was visiting Cambodia for an exhibition in July before being kidnapped by a criminal gang that demanded a $35,000 ransom.

South Korea Issues Travel Warnings

In response to the incident, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued travel warnings for several areas in Cambodia, including Bokor Mountain, as well as Bavet and Poipet, towns near Cambodia’s borders with Vietnam and Thailand. The advisory cited increasing threats from kidnappings, scams, and other criminal activities targeting South Korean nationals.

The South Korean government has pressed for enhanced law enforcement cooperation to combat online scams, kidnappings, and violence against its citizens.

Arrests and Ongoing Investigation

Cambodian authorities have charged three men — Li Xingpeng (35), Zhu Renzhe (43), and Liu Haoxing (29) — with murder and online fraud in connection with Park’s death. Police are continuing their search for two additional suspects, both Chinese nationals.

Touch Sokhak, spokesman for Cambodia’s Interior Ministry, said officials will collaborate with South Korea to prevent crimes including online scams, cyber gambling, and kidnapping. He noted that a recent crackdown on cyberscam operations had rescued at least 80 South Koreans, who were placed under police protection.

Cambodia’s Crackdown on Online Crime

Cambodia has intensified efforts to combat online fraud and cybercrime. Last week, authorities arrested 80 suspects of seven nationalities, mostly Chinese, during a large-scale crackdown on online fraud at a Phnom Penh office complex.

Interior Minister Sar Sokha revealed that over the past two years, at least 15,000 foreigners involved in online crimes have been deported from Cambodia.

International Cybercrime Context

Global agencies, including the United Nations, estimate that cyber scams originating from Southeast Asia generate billions of dollars annually for international criminal networks. Fraudsters often lure victims with fake friendships or fraudulent investment schemes, sometimes exploiting forced labor to maximize profits.

In one notable case, the U.S. government seized more than $14 billion in bitcoin and charged the founder of a Cambodian conglomerate in a massive cryptocurrency scam, accusing him of using illicit funds to buy yachts, private jets, and art, including a Picasso painting.

Cambodia’s renewed commitment to cooperate with South Korea reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen law enforcement, prevent international crime, and protect foreign nationals visiting the country.