Cambodia Denies Allegations of Trafficking and Forced Labor in Online Scam Operations
Tourism Ministry and National Police refute misleading South Korean reports to protect Cambodia’s tourism reputation
The Cambodian Tourism Ministry has strongly denied a misleading report by South Korean media outlet KBS News, which alleged that Koreans and other foreigners were trafficked and forced to work in online scam operations in Cambodia. The ministry expressed concern over the potential negative impact of the report on international tourists, especially following a recent raid by the National Police in Kampong Speu province that resulted in the detention of about 1,000 foreign nationals, primarily Chinese and Koreans. Ministry spokesperson Top Sopheak emphasized that the claims made by KBS News were unfounded and urged both national and international tourists to continue visiting Cambodia without fear.
KBS News had highlighted “Mango Park” in Kampong Speu as a hotspot for employment scams and kidnapping, reporting a significant increase in such cases from 16 in 2023 to 82 involving 105 people by August 2024. However, the Cambodian authorities have not provided detailed comments on these allegations, as spokespersons for the National Police and the General Department of Immigration were unavailable for comment. The South Korean embassy in Phnom Penh has also not responded to inquiries regarding the report. In response, the Cambodian Tourism Association’s chairman, Ho Vandy, noted that the report damaged Cambodia’s reputation and instilled fear among both tourists and locals, affecting tourism and investment negatively.
NGO rights group Licadho’s operations director, Am Sam Ath, acknowledged that while online scams remain a controversial issue in Cambodia, the ministry’s swift denial without thorough investigation could lead to further distrust. Ath emphasized the importance of substantiating claims before making public statements to avoid unnecessary criticism and suspicion. He also pointed out that other countries, such as India, have cautioned their citizens about visiting Cambodia due to similar scam-related incidents. With Cambodia aiming to recover its tourism sector post-pandemic, officials are working to address these challenges and restore confidence among international visitors.
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KBS News had highlighted “Mango Park” in Kampong Speu as a hotspot for employment scams and kidnapping, reporting a significant increase in such cases from 16 in 2023 to 82 involving 105 people by August 2024. However, the Cambodian authorities have not provided detailed comments on these allegations, as spokespersons for the National Police and the General Department of Immigration were unavailable for comment. The South Korean embassy in Phnom Penh has also not responded to inquiries regarding the report. In response, the Cambodian Tourism Association’s chairman, Ho Vandy, noted that the report damaged Cambodia’s reputation and instilled fear among both tourists and locals, affecting tourism and investment negatively.
NGO rights group Licadho’s operations director, Am Sam Ath, acknowledged that while online scams remain a controversial issue in Cambodia, the ministry’s swift denial without thorough investigation could lead to further distrust. Ath emphasized the importance of substantiating claims before making public statements to avoid unnecessary criticism and suspicion. He also pointed out that other countries, such as India, have cautioned their citizens about visiting Cambodia due to similar scam-related incidents. With Cambodia aiming to recover its tourism sector post-pandemic, officials are working to address these challenges and restore confidence among international visitors.
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