Seoul: The National Police Agency (NPA) announced on Sunday that it will convene with Cambodian law enforcement later this month to discuss prevention strategies following the recent torture death of a Korean college student in Cambodia. Park Sung-joo, head of the NPA, is planning a visit to Cambodia to evaluate the situation and improve coordination with local authorities, with the meeting scheduled for October 23.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the NPA aims to initiate joint cross-border operations with international police bodies, including Interpol, and will assign an additional 30 officers to oversee international investigations. Diplomatic sources revealed that South Korea and Cambodia are in discussions to enhance consular support and investigative prowess in Phnom Penh to address crimes against Korean nationals.
Efforts are underway to increase the number of police officers at the South Korean Embassy in Cambodia and to set up a “Korean Desk” within the Cambodian national police. This specialized team would focus on cases involving Koreans, as the current staffing of one Korean police officer and two liaisons is insufficient to handle the surge in crimes such as employment scams and illegal detentions.
The alarming case of a Korean college student reportedly tortured to death in Cambodia has intensified calls for more police personnel to be dispatched to improve collaboration with Cambodian authorities and to provide more robust support for Korean victims. On Friday, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called in the Cambodian ambassador in Seoul to demand stronger actions against the increasing number of online scams and detentions affecting Koreans. Concurrently, the foreign ministry has elevated its Level 2 travel advisory for Phnom Penh to a special travel advisory.