Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
South Korean (South Korean) tourists cancel trips to various countries in
Southeast Asia
amidst increasing concerns about security issues, following reports of criminal cases of employment fraud (
job scam
) and kidnapping, especially in Cambodia.
A man surnamed Son told
Korea JoongAng Daily
that he had just canceled plans for a golf trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with friends next December.
“It’s a waste to lose the cancellation fee, but I can’t bring myself to go to Cambodia right now,” Son was quoted as saying
VN Express
.
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Data shows that departures from South Korea to Southeast Asian countries decreased by 7.25% in October 2025, with Cambodia experiencing the sharpest decline, according to the report
The Korea Herald
.
Cambodia saw a decline of 15.4 percent, from 13,727 visits in September to 11,613 in October 2025.
Murder of Korean Student in Cambodia Sparks Widespread Fear
Public concerns intensified last month after a Korean student visiting Phnom Penh for a summer job fair was reportedly tortured and killed by a local criminal organization, according to reports
Reuters
.
The student’s death sparked widespread fear among South Koreans, prompting the government to take urgent steps to protect citizens from a growing fraud crisis.
The impact of this security issue is now spreading beyond Cambodia.The Philippines and Thailand also received fewer South Korean visitors in October 2025.
Visits to the Philippines fell 18.9 percent to 120,175, while visits to Thailand fell 5 percent to 157,402.
“I was supposed to go to Laos in January (2026), but now I’m really anxious because so many people canceled (trips),” wrote one netizen in Korean media.
Major travel agencies also voiced concern over growing public anxiety about Southeast Asian crime cases.
“So far we have not seen a significant decline in bookings for destinations other than Cambodia,” said a travel company representative.”But we are monitoring the situation closely,” he added.
A poll conducted on October 21 by Realmeter showed that 82.4 percent of South Korean respondents said recent crimes in Cambodia had influenced their views on travel to Southeast Asia.This figure jumped to 88.3 percent among respondents in their 20s.
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