Corporations in the financial sector, including banks, KARD companies, and savings banks, have moved to strengthen safety and security at their Cambodia subsidiaries. Concerns about local public safety are spreading after a recent abduction and confinement incident involving Koreans in Cambodia. Financial firms are tightening oversight by conducting safety training for employees posted to Cambodia subsidiaries and recommending location sharing.
According to the financial industry on the 23rd, KB Kookmin Card conveyed safety precautions to three Korean expatriates working at its Cambodia subsidiary, KB Daehan Special Bank. The guidance is said to include safety rules such as refraining from contact with strangers and visits to remote areas. KB Kookmin Card is continuously monitoring the situation at KB Daehan Special Bank and is also gathering input on support needed to ensure the safety of the expatriates.
BNK Capital, affiliated with BNK Financial Group, is advising its two Korean expatriates on duty (the head of the corporation and the managing director) to share their current location with the company at night. It also urged about 200 employees, including Korean expatriates and local staff, to refrain from traveling to or going on business trips to areas with public-safety concerns. It is said to have put in place an emergency system so that other employees can take over duties in case of an emergency to ensure there is no disruption to the operation of the corporation.
Commercial banks with subsidiaries in Cambodia, including KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, and NH Nonghyup Bank, are also said to have instructed expatriates to avoid nighttime travel and restrict access to high-risk areas.
OK Financial Group strengthened training and safety guidelines for expatriates and employees at Phnom Penh Commercial Bank in Cambodia, which it acquired together with JB Financial Group. So far, there have been no reported cases of damage at KB Daehan Special Bank, BNK Capital, or Phnom Penh Commercial Bank.
Recently in Cambodia, indications have repeatedly emerged that Korean nationals have been confined by organizations involved in crimes such as voice phishing. Some Koreans are reportedly being detained by local investigative authorities on the grounds that they were involved in criminal activity. President Lee Jae-myung also ordered, "Mobilize all available resources to respond swiftly, accurately, and decisively."
An industry official said, "Although the number of employees posted in Cambodia is small, they generally handle overall management duties, so we are taking special care with their personal safety."