As kidnappings, confinement, and killings of Koreans continue in Cambodia and travel is banned for some areas, some domestic BJs (internet streamers) have announced plans to livestream near a Cambodian crime complex.
According to an online community on Oct. 20, a person identified as A, who is active as a BJ, recently posted on social media (SNS) that a plane ticket to Cambodia had been booked.
A said, "Departing for Cambodia on the 21st. 7 p.m. flight ticketing complete." The itinerary includes three people, including A and other BJs.
A also previewed, "Planning to do an excel broadcast in front of a den of criminals." An excel broadcast is a stream where BJs organize sponsorship rankings like an Excel sheet to induce competition in donations among viewers.
On the 12th, a post spread through an online community claiming that another BJ, identified as B, conducted a livestream in front of the "Wongu complex" in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital. Along with the Prince complex and the Mango complex, the Wongu complex is cited as one of the three major crime complexes in Cambodia. It is known as a place where Chinese criminal groups engage in illegal fraud and confinement.
In front of the complex, B held a one-person protest, shouting, "Release the Koreans while we're asking nicely," and "Free the victims who are being forcibly confined." The stream was broadcast in real time, and at one point the number of viewers exceeded 20,000. The streaming platform where B was broadcasting posted a notice to end the stream for safety.
Incidents targeting Koreans in Cambodia have been reported one after another recently. In Aug., a Korean college student was kidnapped and confined in Cambodia and died under torture. On Oct. 18, 64 Koreans who took part in fraud, including voice phishing, in Cambodia and were detained by immigration authorities were deported to Korea on a chartered flight early that morning.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued level 4 (travel ban), the highest travel alert, starting at 12 a.m. on Oct. 16 for crime group-concentrated areas including Bokor Mountain in Kampot province, Bavet city, and Poipet city, while maintaining the current special travel advisory in force for Phnom Penh.
In addition, starting Oct. 15, police have been conducting spot checks at Incheon International Airport gates to prevent departures for criminal purposes. If criminal suspicion is confirmed, departure can be banned on the spot.
However, if someone departs for simple travel or content production, there is no legal basis to stop it. A police official said, "Unless there are clear criminal suspicions, such as being victimized by a job scam or selling bank accounts, there are limits to blocking departures themselves."