Kidnapping cases occurring not only in Cambodia but also in neighboring countries and various nations have recently become a hot topic.
Similar cases have occurred in Korea too. With thousands of small islands scattered across the country, there were heinous incidents referred to as 'island slave labor.' Stories of people being lured with false job promises, then forced to work, physically abused, and sometimes murdered, are disturbingly not unheard of.
 |
| While he came to Cambodia for a parts export agreement, those waiting for him turned out to be criminals, not business associates. |
Lately, abduction methods have evolved beyond job scams to include business deals and tourist attractions as lures.
One Korean businessman running an auto parts export company traveled to Cambodia for a parts procurement agreement, only to be kidnapped at the airport.
He endured electric shock torture and constant death threats before his eventual rescue.
He ended up with lasting scars and serious corneal injuries from the torture.
However, his case was exceptionally fortunate. Official records show over 300
confirmed victims, with roughly 200 cases documented in the first six months of 2025 alone.
If we factor in unreported incidents and non-Korean victims, the actual number may run into the thousands.
 |
| This man was kidnapped and forcibly made to inhale drugs. he is kidnapped and forced to take drugs. He was later found dead at the location. |
The family managed to contact him and attempted to negotiate his freedom, but he died of a torture-induced heart attack. For two months now, they haven't been able to claim his body
Self-rescue is nearly impossible. Victims can only escape through family negotiations or by actively engaging in the criminal activities demanded of them—voice phishing, romance scams, and the like—and proving profitable.
But even when victims manage to contact family or friends, as seen above, their odds of getting out remain extremely low. Any escape attempt, if caught, can result in death. These facilities actually run their own crematoriums where, according to reports, victims who die have their organs harvested for sale before their bodies are burned.
To protect yourself from these dangers, don't fall for offers of high-income jobs that supposedly anyone can do.
The vast majority of these are illegal operations involving voice phishing and romance scams, where you're forced to work 17-hour days with little to no real pay.
 |
| Recently, a Korean man in his 50s was abducted while moving between locations near a cafe. |
If you're visiting such countries, always check your embassy's guidelines and never go anywhere alone.
Be wary of meetups or job offers through Telegram. Most legitimate companies hire you through official resumes, interview processes, and verified corporations—not through Telegram.
As such crimes are becoming more prevalent, refrain from solo travel to areas with increasing voice phishing centers or high rates of kidnapping incidents.
Before closing, here's a brief summary of the confirmed incidents.
1. Easy overseas jobs promising high earnings
2. Invitations from pen pals to border villages
3. Kidnappings using cars in commercial districts
4. Using dating and romance as bait to arrange meetings
5. Cases where kidnapped victims invited people they knew, either due to debts incurred from on-site drugs and vice activities, or under duress (with reported bounties of $10,000 per person)
6. Kidnapping travelers by offering cheap guided tours
How to minimize these dangers
1.Avoid regions where embassies and news sources report frequent cases of such crimes.
2.Avoid boarding suspicious vehicles and only use verified ride-hailing apps. Be cautious of strangers who approach you in a friendly way on the street.
3.Beware of people who seem to fall for you unreasonably fast or without clear cause.
4.Make sure family and friends know your exact travel schedule and check in regularly with location updates.
5.In case of abduction, have Telegram rescue channel numbers memorized (such channels exist in Korea), along with embassy phone numbers and contacts for friends and family.
6.Local sources indicate that Cambodian police will only attempt a rescue if your contacts can provide them with an explicit message confirming your abduction and desire to leave, along with the exact building address or name and your room number. (+Your name)
댓글
댓글 쓰기