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National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac speaks during an interview at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. / Source: Yonhap News

South Korea’s presidential office on Monday convened the first meeting of a newly established “Task Force on Crimes Against Koreans in Cambodia,” chaired by National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac, to coordinate the government’s response and expedite the return of Korean citizens in danger.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Wi stressed during the meeting that the “swift repatriation of Korean nationals facing danger must be prioritized.”

“While criminal acts committed by those involved must be dealt with according to law, our immediate responsibility is to bring home our citizens who are at risk on humanitarian grounds,” Wi was quoted as saying. He instructed officials to “consider phased repatriation if necessary,” adding that those who can be immediately returned should be sent home first.

Officials from the Foreign Ministry, Justice Ministry, and National Office of Investigation attended the session, where participants discussed dispatching Korean investigators to Cambodia to work with local authorities and assess ongoing rescue efforts.

According to the Foreign Ministry, cases of Korean citizens being kidnapped or detained in Cambodia have surged, reaching 330 as of late August.

Kang said the meeting focused mainly on reviewing the overall situation and identifying next steps. “Detailed information about specific cases was shared, but today’s session centered on assessing the broader picture and deciding on follow-up measures,” she noted. “Once the task force’s work becomes more concrete, we will provide further updates.”

The task force was convened just two days after President Lee Jae-myung ordered government agencies to mobilize all available resources in response to a wave of crimes targeting Koreans in Cambodia.