ED Korea's damage control in Cambodia

Three Chinese nationals affiliated with organized crime are seen after being caught by Cambodian law enforcement officials. Yonhap

The Korean public is outraged over the government’s inaction as its nationals faced increasing peril from organized crime in Cambodia. The internet is now awash with harrowing accounts from survivors who risked their lives to escape what they described as a hellish detention at the hands of Chinese-led criminal syndicates in the Southeast Asian country.

One escapee recounted making a desperate call to the Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh, terrified he might be spotted by the criminals who had kidnapped him. Instead of receiving immediate assistance, he was told by an unnamed embassy official to contact the Cambodian police himself. When he explained he didn’t speak the local language, the staffer reportedly advised him to use Google Translate.

Families of other missing Koreans have also come forward, sharing the pain and helplessness of waiting for news from Cambodia. While their individual experiences vary, they all echo the same sentiment: The Korean government was not there when its citizens needed help the most.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun came under intense scrutiny during a National Assembly inspection of the foreign ministry. Lawmakers harshly criticized Cho and his ministry for their failure to act swiftly.

“When did you become aware of the seriousness of the situation in Cambodia?” asked Rep. Song Eon-seog of the main opposition People Power Party.

“Most recently,” Cho replied. Pressed for a specific date, the minister responded, “Last week.”

Rep. Song fired back: “You must be out of your mind. You clearly never cared about the safety of Korean nationals.”

The foreign ministry deserves the public and political backlash it is facing. It ignored urgent pleas from endangered Koreans abroad and failed to recognize the gravity of the situation.

Rep. Park Chan-dae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea has called for the establishment of a dedicated institution to assist Koreans overseas who are in danger. Park received public praise for his proactive involvement in rescuing two Koreans detained in Cambodia earlier this year.

In August, his office received a call from the parents of the abductees. He immediately relayed the situation to the foreign ministry, urging them to intervene. According to Park, the ministry contacted Cambodian authorities, and with the help of a Korean consul, the two Koreans were successfully rescued.

Park emphasized that close coordination between his office, the foreign ministry and embassy officials was critical to the successful outcome, highlighting just how crucial swift and decisive action can be when lives are on the line.

Testimony from survivors and lawmakers suggests the foreign ministry has responded inconsistently to Korean nationals kidnapped in Cambodia. When an influential lawmaker like Park — widely seen as a close aide to President Lee Jae Myung — made a request, the ministry was quick to mobilize resources. Yet when an ordinary citizen, whose life was in immediate danger, asked for help, the response was passive at best.

Such a glaring double standard warrants harsh criticism. The ministry’s selective handling of these cases undermines the trust of the Korean public and calls into question the core principles guiding its diplomatic mission, raising serious doubts about whether the ministry has fulfilled its duty to protect Korean citizens abroad.

The scale of the problem is alarming. In 2023, around 30 Koreans were reported kidnapped or missing in Cambodia. That number surged to 220 the following year and had already reached 330 by August this year. These rapidly increasing figures point to a clear and escalating crisis that cannot be dismissed.

Despite the warning signs, the foreign ministry failed to address the issue as a serious policy priority. No cross-ministerial task force was formed. No systematic response plan was implemented. The absence of an effective early warning or crisis management system has directly contributed to the ongoing kidnapping surge.

Protecting our citizens overseas is a core responsibility of the foreign ministry. It’s one reason Korean embassies are staffed with personnel from various government bodies, including military and cultural attaches. The Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh even has a consul dispatched by the National Police Agency. But despite this cross-ministerial presence, the embassy failed to prevent the kidnappings.

While it’s true that foreign embassies face limits due to the sovereignty of host countries, that does not excuse inaction. Just as the ministry coordinated with Cambodian authorities in response to Park’s request, consular officials should have done the same in other cases. Their failure to act raises troubling questions about who gets help and why.

Korea must learn from its inadequate response to the crisis. It should consider implementing an early warning system and establish clear protocols to protect its citizens in the event they go missing or are kidnapped abroad. Additionally, Korea must press Cambodia to take stronger action against international criminal gangs operating within its borders.

Tackling transnational crimes such as online scams cannot be done by Korea alone. Therefore, it is crucial for Korea to collaborate not only with Cambodia but also with other affected nations to coordinate efforts and crack down on these criminal networks.