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President Lee Jae-myung presides over a policy discussion on decarbonization and regulatory reform at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Oct. 16. / Source: Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday ordered the immediate removal of online job advertisements that lure South Koreans to Cambodia, amid growing public concern over a series of crimes targeting Korean nationals in the country.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said during a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan that President Lee instructed the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to convene an emergency review to delete such ads. “The president this morning ordered swift action through the KCC’s emergency deliberation system to remove online postings recruiting people to Cambodia,” Wi said, adding that judicial authorities would also tighten monitoring of online content related to Cambodia.

According to Wi, President Lee has received at least four reports on the Cambodia situation and issued multiple directives between July and early October.

The government plans a whole-of-government response, including stricter oversight of domestic and overseas job platforms to prevent similar incidents, rescue efforts for victims on the ground, and identification and prosecution of those involved. In addition, South Korea’s 190 diplomatic missions will conduct a comprehensive review to assess whether similar risks exist for Korean nationals abroad, especially in Southeast Asia.

Wi rejected criticism that the government had neglected the issue, saying, “It cannot be said that the situation was left unattended. Since last year, the government has taken steps such as increasing local police presence and issuing travel warnings to raise awareness.”

He added that although Seoul expects to do more, coordination with Cambodian authorities has slowed the response. “There are active inflow channels from Korea, which complicates matters further,” he said.

To strengthen its response, Seoul is dispatching an acting ambassador to Cambodia, who is expected to arrive Thursday night. “Since this is a temporary assignment, agrément procedures are not required, and he will oversee embassy operations until a new ambassador is appointed,” Wi explained.

The government also plans to bolster international cooperation to root out crimes targeting Koreans in Cambodia. Related discussions are expected at the upcoming ASEAN summit, where Seoul will propose establishing multilateral investigative cooperation with affected countries.

“The Cambodia issue will naturally be an important topic at the ASEAN meetings,” Wi said. “Given the number of countries involved, discussing it in a multilateral setting will be most effective.”

South Korea also intends to raise the matter at the UN’s Third Committee on Human Rights and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, seeking stronger law enforcement cooperation and emergency measures to protect victims’ rights. The government will further engage with the OECD to improve coordination among advanced nations in tackling illicit financial flows and digital crimes.