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“Even If It Means Military Operations”: Ruling, Opposition Parties Equivocal Against Cambodian Criminal Incidents in Assembly Audit

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"Even If It Means Military Operations": Ruling, Opposition Parties Equivocal Against Cambodian Criminal Incidents in Assembly Audit

The parties of the National Assembly on the 13th ordered in a singular opinion that the government actively react to felonies repeatedly committed against Koreans in Cambodia. Even military operations were mentioned during the National Policy Committee’s audit of the Office of Government Policy Coordination. In the audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, both parties slammed relevant offices for their inadequate reactionary measures.

During the questioning session of the National Assembly National Policy Committee’s Audit of the Office of Government Policy Coordination, etc., DPK’s assembly member Park Chandae stated that “according to the statistics from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, abduction and incarceration reports [from our own citizens] in Cambodia increased from 4 cases in 2021 to 330 cases in 2024, and there have been 330 cases until August for 2025.” He then added, “By converting proportionally to annual count, there has been more than a hundredfold surge.”

“Which businesses has the Office of Government Policy Coordination carried out in detail during the period of time in which our citizens’ missing reports have skyrocketed?” He continued to ask. “I wonder whether there were holes in these measures, while the number of reports has been shooting upwards since 2021.”

“We need a complete change in our view of the situation. All government bodies must coordinate their efforts and act,” demanded assembly member Park Beomgye of the same party. He emphasized, “Cambodia is the beneficiary of a massive official development assistance(ODA) project [initiated by the previous administration]. If so, we must push this matter towards a matter of diplomatic affairs, police affairs, and possibly even military operations.”

PPP’s assembly member Kang Minguk supported Park’s comment on military operations.

“Are there any abduction cases unaccounted for outside of the 330 kidnapping reports of Korean nationals from January to August this year?” He asked. “Can the government handle the situation like this when hundreds of our own citizens have been kidnapped, in captivity, and are desperate for help?” He berated. He continued, “When our citizens were kidnapped by Somali pirates in 2011, we rescued them through a military operation. I think our military should carry out an operation jointly with the Cambodian forces and police. Should Cambodia refuse to carry out the joint operation, we may need to consider retracting [funds for the ODA project].”

Yoon Changnyeol, chief of the Office of Government Policy Coordination, said in the day’s meeting, “I would like you to trust in us and see. I will do the best that I can and resolve this matter.” He added, “I wish we didn’t have to go there,” referring to the proposed military operations, but also emphasized, “we will use any measures necessary [in resolving the issue].” He also mentioned, “[events in Cambodia] have been continually increasing […] it is true [we] haven’t been properly grasping the situation.”

Meanwhile, in the audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others, held by the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, the ruling and opposition parties slammed overseas offices in unison for the giant increase in abductions of Korean nationals in Cambodia.

“Around 2022 and 2023, the number of kidnapping cases of Korean citizens in Cambodia was analyzed to be about 10 to 20 annually. This year, however, we saw a whopping 30 times, a 3000% increase in those numbers as the cases amounted to 330 by August,” pointed out assembly member Kim Gihyeon of the PPP. “However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs treats this matter as if it’s a fire across the river.” He added, “The Embassy in Cambodia received a report from a victim’s family in late July, yet they let the unfortunate death happen. […] 43 ambassadors’ offices are currently empty out of the 171 of our diplomatic offices overseas.”

In response to Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun’s statement that they “will plan and carry out special measures, and will take necessary actions [together] with the Cambodian Government,” DPK’s assembly member Yoon Hudeok pressed, “What are the president’s special measures [specifically]? If 300 to 500 Koreans are kidnapped, captured, and unable to be reached in a foreign land, shouldn’t [he] be sending maybe the Air Force 001?”

Assembly member Lee Yongseon, of the same party, mentioned that “the ambassador [to Cambodia]’s seat is currently empty, and the previous ambassador was highly controversial [since] his appointment.” “Some point out that since then, [the embassy] has been virtually neglecting and standing by the emigrants’ and the citizens’ safety and security issues. There are more reports of abduction and incarceration in Cambodia than in the Philippines, yet there is no such thing as a ‘Korean Desk’.”

Meanwhile, the Committee for Foreign Affairs and Unification decided to carry out the national affairs audit in Cambodia itself on the 22nd. According to the committee, committee chair Kim Seokgi, DPK members Yoon Hudeok and Han Jeongae, PPP members Kim Giwoong and In Yohan, and RKP member Kim Junhyeong will be participating. It has been told that they will be reviewing prevention and counteraction measures against local crimes made against Koreans. Ambassadors from nearby nations, such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos, will also be gathering for the field audit in Cambodia.

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