South Korean travel to Cambodia plunges amid trafficking scare

SEOUL: Recent reports of scams and kidnappings in Cambodia are shaking the sense of South Koreans’ wanderlust, leading travellers to think twice before booking flights.

According to a recent story from The Korea Herald, new statistics from Incheon International Airport show a noticeable drop in departures to the region last month. In October, 784,962 South Koreans flew to Southeast Asia—a 7.25 per cent decrease from September. Cambodia saw the steepest fall, with passenger numbers down 15.4 per cent, from 13,727 to 11,613 travellers.

The decline comes after chilling reports that young South Koreans, lured by promising job offers in tech and digital marketing, were trafficked into scam operations in Cambodia’s lightly regulated special economic zones. Once there, some were allegedly held against their will, forced to run online fraud schemes, and in extreme cases, subjected to violence or sold to other criminal networks.

The effect is not confined to Cambodia alone. The number of South Korean visitors has also dropped in the Philippines and Thailand, with a decline of 18.9 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. These declines stand out especially because overall international travel from Incheon Airport actually grew 3.1 per cent in October, reaching over 6.39 million passengers.

Travel agencies are feeling the shift firsthand. “This isn’t just about group tours being cancelled,” one industry official told local media. “Individual travellers—especially businesspeople and solo travellers—are now hesitant. That caution will likely extend to larger tour groups by the end of the year.”

Public sentiment reflects these fears. A poll by Realmeter, also featured on The Korea Herald on Oct 21, found that 82.4 per cent of Koreans said the Cambodia incidents affected how they view travel to Southeast Asia, and the number jumped to 88.3 per cent among people in their 20s. The study likewise disclosed disappointment with the current administration, with 56 per cent of people surveyed saying that the Foreign Ministry had roughed up the preliminary response.

For many holidaymakers and tourists, the choice to stay home is more than just expediency or cost—it’s about security, confidence, and peace of mind. As government authorities, tourism officials, and travel establishments wrestle with the consequences, the circumstances highlight a mounting strain in international travel – the craving for exploration and escapade as opposed to the need for security and safety.