As employment scams and confinement cases targeting Koreans in Cambodia continue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said about 80 Koreans on the ground have not been confirmed safe.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told reporters on the 14th that "a total of 330 related reports were received from January to August this year," and "about 80%, or around 260 cases, have been closed through local police arrests or deportations, self-escape, or return to Korea, while the remaining 80 or so people have still not been confirmed safe."
The official explained, "Cases processed as closed are those confirmed not to be in confinement, and include cases where contact with family or acquaintances was reestablished." The official added, "Of the 220 cases received last year, more than 95% were closed, and combining them with the 70 or so remaining this year, about 80 people have yet to be confirmed."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is also conducting cross-checks with the police.
Meanwhile, about 90 Koreans have been arrested during Cambodia's crackdown on online crimes. They are being held in local detention centers, and most are subject to deportation. On this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said some refused to return, but the number of returnees has recently increased, reducing those currently detained to about 60.
Citing local public safety concerns and the spread of similar crimes, the government is also reviewing raising the travel advisory level for parts of Cambodia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs already issued a "special travel advisory (level 2.5)" for the capital Phnom Penh on the 10th, and left open the possibility of further raising it to "advisory to leave the country" (level 3) or "travel ban" (level 4).