As crimes such as kidnapping, confinement, and torture targeting young Koreans continue in Cambodia, stirring controversy, an internet broadcast BJ held a one-person protest and livestreamed in front of a local crime compound.
BJ A traveled to the Oeng Krou compound on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, through SOOP (formerly Afreeca) on the 12th. Along with the Taija compound and the Mango compound, this place is counted among the three major crime compounds.
A departed for Cambodia on the night of the 11th and moved to the Oeng Krou compound the next morning. In front of the compound, A shouted, "Release the Koreans," "Release the Koreans while we're asking nicely," and "Release the victims of forced confinement."
As the broadcast continued, someone from the compound came out and filmed A's face with a mobile phone camera. When A demanded, "What did you record?" there was no answer. The video also captured a guard dog being let off its leash.
A's livestream drew more than 20,000 real-time viewers. As the broadcast gained attention, SOOP judged that A could be in danger and asked to end the stream.
An administrator wrote in the broadcast's comment window, "This could pose a threat to personal safety. We have confirmed locals taking photos of A," and added, "As this is becoming an issue in Korea, please stop broadcasting at the location in question and near crime compounds."
On the afternoon of the 12th, A said, "Leaving an update because many are worried," adding, "I'm heading to the lodging now. The driver dropped me off elsewhere, so I'm pretending to broadcast as I go. You don't need to worry."
Afterward, along with a photo taken at the lodging's swimming pool, A said, "I arrived safely," and added, "Even if a bad situation unfolds, it's my fault for coming to a dangerous place, so please don't file false reports and don't worry."
Internet users reacted to A's broadcast by saying things like, "What are views worth that you would go to a crime-prone area to stream?" and "Doesn't value life."
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were 330 reports of damages related to employment scams and confinement filed with Korean missions in Cambodia from January to August this year. In Aug., a Korean college student died after being tortured by a local criminal organization.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised Phnom Penh to a special travel advisory area as of 9 p.m. on the 10th. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "We ask that our nationals planning to visit areas under a special travel advisory in Cambodia cancel or postpone their trips unless it is an urgent matter."