Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party. Yonhap News

Amid a surge in kidnappings of South Koreans in Cambodia, Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, has strongly criticized the government's irresponsible response. 

In a Facebook post on the 9th, Rep. Na stated, "While South Korean citizens are being sold as commodities by criminal organizations, the Lee Jae-myung administration is neglecting this situation. As a result of focusing solely on political retaliation, the safety of our citizens is being ignored."

According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of reported kidnappings of South Koreans in Cambodia was around 10-20 cases annually between 2022 and 2023. However, this number dramatically increased to 220 cases in 2023 and 330 cases by August of 2024. During the same period, the number of arrested South Koreans surged by 15 times, from 3 in 2023 to 144 by July of this year, and cases of employment fraud and confinement also increased by 14.8 times year-on-year to 252 cases.

Most victims were lured into being kidnapped by criminal organizations with promises of "high-paying overseas employment." Some were found dead after threats of remittance or were rescued in comatose states. Similar incidents are reportedly spreading to neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Thailand.

Rep. Na specifically pointed out the corruption of local police and the inadequate consular assistance from the South Korean embassy. "Fifteen South Koreans arrested in Sihanoukville were resold to other criminal organizations in just two weeks while awaiting repatriation to South Korea," she said. "According to victim testimonies, it is as if local police sold our citizens for money."

She added, "Human rights abuses are occurring, where people are surviving on two meager bowls of broth and half a bowl of rice a day, and a single Choco Pie is sold for $4." She urged, "The government must immediately form an emergency joint task force comprising relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Intelligence Service, and launch a full-scale response system."

Rep. Na remarked, "The President stated at the World Korean Day event that he would protect the safety of citizens, but in reality, there is extreme inconsistency between his words and actions. This neglect is not merely dereliction of duty but a surrender of the nation and a failure of governance."