Cambodia Incidents Involving Jeju Residents: Another Case of "Lost Contact Since June Departure"

Currently, 5 reports of detention, assault, and missing persons have been filed specifically in the Jeju region.

Jeju Provincial Police Agency [Yonhap News photo]

Police have launched an investigation following an additional report of a young man from Jeju who went to Cambodia and has since been out of contact.

According to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency on the 15th, the Jeju Western Police Station received a report on the morning of the 14th from the family of an individual in their 20s, identified as A, stating that their son had departed for Cambodia and has been unreachable for several months.

The family filed the report out of concern due to a recent spate of crime victims in Cambodia, including detentions and disappearances of South Koreans.

Police have confirmed that A left South Korea for Cambodia via Incheon International Airport on June 3rd and has not re-entered the country since, and are currently investigating the matter.

The police explained, "A was not residing in Jeju at the time of his departure, but his mother, concerned for her son, filed the report from Jeju." They added, "As reports related to Cambodia continue to be received, the total number of cases may increase."

Including the case of A, a total of 5 reports have been filed from individuals who traveled from Jeju to Cambodia and subsequently experienced victimisation, including detention, threats, and disappearance.

On June 24th, a young man in his 20s from Jeju, identified as B, submitted a petition to the police stating, "My financial information, including my mobile phone and bank accounts, was stolen in Cambodia."

B, who had departed for Cambodia on June 16th after being offered a job, was reportedly threatened by a criminal organization. However, it was determined that he did not experience detention or assault.

Furthermore, on July 7th, a young man in his 20s from Jeju, identified as C, reported to the police, "I went to Cambodia to earn money but was detained and threatened."

C had departed for Cambodia in early June, believing claims of a high-paying job. He was subsequently detained and assaulted by locals. He managed to escape in early July and returned to Jeju with the assistance of a local Korean resident.

Additionally, on July 9th, police received a report from the family of an individual identified as D, in his 20s, stating, "We received contact from an unidentified person claiming to be holding D."

Two days later, on July 11th, the unidentified individual contacted D's family again via Telegram, allowing D to speak with his family before demanding a ransom of approximately 35 million Korean Won in cryptocurrency.

Upon the family's agreement to the demand, D returned to South Korea on August 10th and is reportedly receiving treatment for psychological trauma.

In another incident, a missing person report was filed with the police on August 28th concerning a young man in his 20s, identified as E, who had departed for Cambodia on July 11th and had been out of contact.

However, E returned to South Korea this month, three months after the report was filed. The police are currently re-investigating whether he was a victim of a crime.

Jeju Provincial Police Chief Ko Pyeong-ki stated at a press conference today, "The National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency is directly involved, and the government is also responding. Reports are continuously being received, and we will actively investigate any suspicions of criminal activity, however minor." Yonhap News