Woman Kidnapped, Beaten And Forced Work In Sexual Slavery Center — Travel Ban Issued As Cases Skyrocket 

Recently, there have been multiple reports of kidnappings in Cambodia.

On October 9, it was reported that a student was found dead, with local police claiming he was severely tortured before his death.

Korean College Student Kidnapped, Tortured, And Killed In Cambodia

This tragedy has been connected to a growing number of kidnappings in the country, with it stated that 330 kidnappings involving South Koreans were reported as of August 2025. Many of these cases have been connected to human trafficking rings operating in the country and others in South East Asia.

These cases involve individuals being lured to a country on promises of a job, and being forced to work scam operations and tortured.

Another report made on October 20 from DongA stated that a South Korean woman under the pseudonym Kim Min Ha was lured to the country on the promise of an interpreter job and was met at the airport by a Korean expat who told her it would be easy work. 

She was then driven four hours to an apartment near the Sihanoukville coast, where she sent her family a message letting them know she arrived.

Shortly after, men burst into her room and stole her phone and passport, before being forced into the actual job she would be working — sexually explicit live streaming. She was forced to strip on stream and beg for donations and if she failed to make a set “quota,” she was beaten and berated.

Thankfully, the photo she sent to her family was able to be traced to her location, leading to her rescue a month later. Upon her return home, she learned that the Korean man had sold her to the crime syndicate for ₩5.00 million KRW (about $3,500 USD).

As these cases continue, including the still active building where Kim Min Ha was held, South Korea’s government has issued a “code black” ban, the highest level of travel advisory for parts of Cambodia.