Buddhist temple where the body of the murdered South Korean student was kept in Cambodia. Yonhap News

The main suspect, a Chinese national (also known as "Joseonjok" or Korean-Chinese) in the "torture and murder of a South Korean university student" case that occurred in a criminal compound in Cambodia in August, has been apprehended by local police for a different offense.

According to diplomatic sources and police on the 28th, Cambodian police arrested a Chinese national in his 30s, identified as Li Guanghao, in the capital, Phnom Penh, on charges including murder.

He was reportedly apprehended while dining with others at a restaurant in Phnom Penh in the early morning hours.

A diplomatic official stated, "They were arrested yesterday (by local investigative authorities)," adding, "As the investigation is ongoing, specific details cannot be disclosed."

The South Korean Embassy in Cambodia has also confirmed that they have been notified of the arrest by local investigative authorities.

However, it has been confirmed that Li was apprehended for another crime committed in Cambodia, not for the murder of the South Korean university student.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency, which is investigating the case involving the South Korean university student, announced through a press release, "Mr. Li was arrested yesterday on other charges. We plan to confirm the charges related to the ongoing investigation through international cooperation."

Cambodian investigative authorities are questioning Li regarding the details and motives of his crimes.

It is reported that both the future investigation and trial are highly likely to take place in Cambodia.

Li is suspected of torturing and murdering a South Korean university student in his 20s, identified as Mr. Park, near Bokor Mountain in Kampot Province, Cambodia, in August.

He and his accomplices are also accused of forcibly administering methamphetamine to Mr. Park and filming the act on their mobile phones.

According to the National Intelligence Service, Li was also an accomplice in a drug case that occurred in a Gangnam academy district in Seoul in 2023.

He was not apprehended at the time and committed further crimes in a criminal compound in Cambodia, known as "Wench."

Earlier, Mr. Park had left for Cambodia on July 17th, telling his family he was going to a local expo. He was then held captive and tortured in the criminal compound.

Less than a month later, on August 8th, he was found murdered inside a parked car in the Bokor Mountain area.

When local police discovered Mr. Park's body, there were signs of torture, including bruises and wounds.

Three Chinese nationals in their 30s and 40s, accused of murdering Mr. Park (charges of murder and fraud), were arrested and indicted in a Cambodian court last month.

Mr. Park's body was cremated after an autopsy at a Buddhist temple in Phnom Penh on the 20th of last month, and his remains were returned to his family about 70 days after the incident occurred.

The National Forensic Service, in a joint autopsy with local authorities, determined the cause of death to be "traumatic shock due to assault."

Cambodian Buddhist temple where the body of the South Korean university student was kept. Yonhap News

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