Recently, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung instructed the relevant departments to use all available means to respond quickly and accurately on the recent kidnapping and detention of Korean citizens in Cambodia. However, the experience of a Korean man's refusal of seeking help from the embassy was exposed by the local media, and public opinion was in uproar.
According to reports, in April this year, the South Korean man escaped from the scam park and after 12 hours, at 6 a.m. local time, finally arrived at the South Korean embassy in Phnom Penh.
Embassy of South Korea (Source: Social Media)
However, the South Korean Embassy refused him entry on the grounds that "it opened until 8 a.m." Even though he begged many times, he finally lingered outside the museum for two hours before being allowed to enter.
Afterwards, the man released a recording of the call with the embassy.
The recording shows that the man kept pleading: "We are at the entrance of the embassy. Can't we go in?" "Even if it's in the parking lot"... The call was then transferred to others, who also refused him entry.
The man said that during the waiting outside, he was very worried that he would be found to be caught back in the park, and the spirit was collapsing.
During the escape, the man also contacted the embassy many times to ask for assistance, but was asked to provide specific locations and photos, but he was under close surveillance and threat of violence and was unable to do so.
After the disclosure of the incident, South Korea's public opinion was upset, and two embassy officials filed withdrawals.
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on October 20 that it is improving the system so that it can obtain consular assistance even when visiting embassies outside office hours.
According to previous media reports, from January to August this year, South Korea's diplomatic office in Cambodia received 330 reports of Korean citizens recruited for cheating, kidnapping and detention, 220 in 2024, compared with only four in 2021.
Jiemu News Comprehensive Sanxiang Metropolis Daily, reference news, public information