2025年10月，一起涉及韓國學生在柬埔寨遭遇綁架與虐殺的案件震驚韓國社會，也引起國際關注。受害者是一名來自慶尚北道醴泉郡的22歲韓國大學生，媒體及官方暫稱其為“A”，而官方文件顯示其姓氏為朴。8月份，該學生赴柬埔寨參加展覽活動並度假後失聯，數週後被發現死於柬埔寨贡布省波哥山附近，法醫初步判定其死因為遭受嚴重酷刑致心臟驟停。

事件的經過令人震驚。7月17日，A告知家人自己前往柬埔寨度假。然而一週後，家屬接到匿名電話，一名操帶中文口音的韓語男子聲稱：“他在這裡惹了麻煩，被我們抓了。給我五千萬韓元（約3.5萬美元），就放了他。”家屬立即報警並聯絡韓國駐金邊大使館展開搜救行動，但因綁匪切斷聯繫，無法確定學生下落。8月8日，柬埔寨警方在波哥山附近的皮卡車內發現A的遺體，該地區以聚集網絡犯罪及求職詐騙團伙而臭名昭著。

此案涉及跨國犯罪組織，至少有三名中國籍嫌疑人被捕，他們與該學生之死直接相關。據柬埔寨警方調查，這些嫌疑人隸屬於波哥山地區的一個大型詐騙中心，該中心曾拘禁A及其他14名韓國公民，並進行電話詐騙及“殺豬盤”詐騙活動。警方查獲大量電子設備、手機及文件，證實這個犯罪網絡專門套取個人信息並進行跨國詐騙。

案件曝光後，韓國政府高度重視，派遣190名警力負責押送在柬埔寨的64名涉案韓國嫌犯回國，並在仁川機場設置嚴密戒備，現場人潮洶湧，顯示事件引發的社會關注。韓國各界，包括共同民主黨黨首李在明，呼籲政府動用一切外交資源，保護在柬埔寨的國民安全。外交部長趙賢則召見柬埔寨駐韓大使庫昂·豐·拉塔納克，要求加強兩國合作，打擊跨國犯罪。

柬埔寨內政部於10月12日公開聲明，將與韓國大使館合作，繼續調查贡布省詐騙案件，逮捕剩餘嫌疑人及同夥，確保正義得以伸張。整個事件凸顯了跨國電信詐騙與綁架犯罪日益針對韓國公民的嚴重性，也引發韓國社會對海外安全與政府保護公民能力的廣泛討論。這起案件不僅是個別悲劇，更暴露了東南亞地區跨國電信詐騙網絡的危險性及複雜性。

In October 2025, a harrowing case involving a South Korean university student who was kidnapped and tortured to death in Cambodia shocked both South Korea and the international community. The victim, a 22-year-old student from Yecheon, Gyeongsangbuk Province, is referred to in media and official reports as “A,” and official documents confirm his surname as Park. In August, he traveled to Cambodia for a vacation and to attend an exhibition but went missing for several weeks. His body was later found near Bokor Mountain in Kampot Province, a region notorious for hosting online scams and employment fraud networks. Preliminary forensic results indicated that he died from severe torture leading to cardiac arrest.

The sequence of events is particularly disturbing. On July 17, A informed his family that he was flying to Cambodia. About a week later, his family received an anonymous phone call from a man speaking Korean with a Chinese accent, who said, “He got into trouble here and we have him. Pay 50 million KRW (approximately $35,000), and we’ll release him.” The family immediately contacted the police and the South Korean embassy in Phnom Penh to begin a search, but the kidnappers severed contact after four days. On August 8, Cambodian authorities discovered A’s body in a pickup truck near Bokor Mountain. Forensic reports confirmed that he had suffered extensive torture prior to death.

Investigations revealed the involvement of a transnational criminal network, including at least three Chinese nationals linked directly to A’s death. These suspects were part of a large scam operation based in the Bokor Mountain area, which had previously held A along with 14 other South Korean citizens. Authorities seized numerous electronic devices, mobile phones, and documents, confirming that the group engaged in both telephone scams and romance scam (“pig-butchering”) operations, systematically targeting South Korean citizens for extortion.

In response to the case, the South Korean government dispatched 190 personnel to escort 64 suspected Korean criminals from Cambodia back home. At Incheon International Airport, a heavy security presence and a massive crowd underscored the intense public attention the case received. Political leaders, including Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, urged the government to use all available diplomatic resources to protect South Korean citizens abroad. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun summoned Cambodia’s ambassador to Seoul, Khuon Phon Rattanak, demanding stronger cooperation to combat transnational crime.

On October 12, Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior issued a statement confirming continued collaboration with the South Korean embassy to investigate the Kampot scam operations and apprehend remaining suspects and accomplices, ensuring that justice is served.

This tragic incident highlights the growing threat of cross-border telecom fraud and kidnapping targeting South Korean citizens and has sparked national debate over the safety of Koreans abroad and the government’s ability to protect them. Beyond the personal tragedy, the case exposes the dangerous and sophisticated nature of transnational criminal networks operating in Southeast Asia.