World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Incidents involving South Koreans in 10 countries rose 48% in 2025
Cases involving South Koreans in 10 countries rose to 4,016 in 2025, a 48.3% increase from the year before.
The countries include China, Cambodia, Thailand and Russia, where Seoul has issued travel advisories.
Reports of lost contact, kidnapping and confinement increased sharply: lost-contact cases rose to 617, while kidnapping and confinement cases reached 553.
China had the most cases, with 1,580, while Cambodia recorded 917, an increase of 569 from 2024.
Cambodia accounted for 43.5% of the total rise across the 10 countries.
South Korea and Cambodia set up a police unit focused on crimes involving South Koreans last November; since then, eight South Koreans have been rescued and 107 people arrested in a joint crackdown on scam crimes.
Accidents and incidents involving South Korean nationals in 10 countries rose 48.3 percent in 2025 from 2024, according to data cited by Yonhap.
The total reached 4,016 cases in countries where Seoul had issued travel advisories most often over the past five years.
Cases of losing contact rose to 617 from 248, while kidnapping and confinement cases increased to 553 from 246.
China recorded the most cases, with 1,580, up from 1,133.
In Cambodia, cases rose by 569 to 917, accounting for 43.5 percent of the increase across the 10 countries.
- Who
- South Korean nationals involved in accidents and incidents.
- What
- The number of cases in 10 countries rose 48.3 percent to 4,016 in 2025.
- When
- In 2025, compared with 2024.
- Where
- Russia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cambodia, Thailand, China, El Salvador, Mexico, Lebanon, Iran and Laos.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The 10 countries recorded 2,707 cases, based on the reported 2025 total and increase of 48.3 percent.
The number of cases rose to 4,016.
A police unit in Cambodia dedicated to crimes involving South Koreans was launched.
Eight South Koreans were rescued and 107 people were nabbed in a joint crackdown on scam crimes in Cambodia.
- Total cases in 2025
- 4,016
- Increase from 2024
- 48.3 percent
- Countries covered
- 10
- China cases in 2025
- 1,580
- Cambodia cases in 2025
- 917
- Cases of losing contact in 2025
- 617