Cambodia–South Korea relations

Cambodian–South Korean relations

Cambodia

South Korea
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of the Cambodia, SeoulEmbassy of South Korea, Phnom Penh
Envoy
Ambassador VacantAmbassador Khuon Phon Rattanak

Cambodia–South Korea relations are foreign relations between Cambodia and South Korea. South Korea has an embassy in Phnom Penh and Cambodia has an embassy in Seoul.[1][2]

Free trade agreements

The two countries agreed to hold a joint FTA committee in the first half of 2024.[3][4]

Cooperation

South Korea has played an important role in promoting Cambodia's socioeconomic development, especially in helping the country develop major industries such as infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and education.[5]

In Phnom Penh in March 2024, South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure and carbon neutrality.[3]

"Based on the young human resources, Cambodia is a nation with high growth potential, posting annual economic growth of 7 percent over the past 20 years......We hope that Cambodia emerges as the key economic partner in the ASEAN bloc through the bilateral FTA."

— Cheong In-kyo, Trade Minister of South Korea

In Cambodia's clothing and textiles sector, South Korean companies are investing heavily to build factories and create jobs for locals.[5]

Summits

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet agreed at bilateral talks to further increase bilateral trade, which hit a record $1.05 billion in 2022.[6][7]

Disputes

Cambodian government has officially requested South Korea to deport Buth Vichhai who has been living in South Korea since 2016, participating as a pro-democracy activist. He is an Influencer and a Rapper and makes various songs and videos on Hun Sen who has been ruling Cambodia under the system of Dictatorship.[8][9][10] His actions and protests includes criticisms towards Hun Sen and Hun Manet.[11]

On 10 October 2025, the Cambodian envoy, Khuon Phon Rattanak was summoned for the death of a South Korean man caused by Scam centers in Cambodia by the Korean minister of foreign affairs, Cho Hyun.[12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Seoul". ស្ថានឯកអគ្គរាជទូតកម្ពុជាប្រចាំសាធារណរដ្ឋកូរ៉េ. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  2. ^ Cambodia, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Kingdom of. "Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Kingdom of Cambodia". Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  3. ^ a b "S. Korea, Cambodia discuss cooperation in trade, infrastructure, carbon neutrality". Yonhap News. March 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "KCS FTA PORTAL". www.customs.go.kr. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  5. ^ a b "The shared future between Cambodia and South Korea beyond 2023". November 3, 2023.
  6. ^ "(LEAD) Yoon meets with leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore". Yonhap News. September 7, 2023.
  7. ^ 배지현 (2022-11-11). "윤 대통령-훈센 총리 "재수교 25주년 양국관계 확대 노력"". 한겨레 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  8. ^ "30 Years of Hun Sen". Human Rights Watch. 2015-01-12.
  9. ^ Kurlantzick, Joshua. "Hun Manet: Reformer Or Just Another Dictator? | Council on Foreign Relations". www.cfr.org. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  10. ^ "Cambodia: Ex-dictator Hun Sen returns as chief of Senate – DW – 04/03/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  11. ^ 김다빈 (2025-08-02). "'정권교체' 외친 19만 팔로워 래퍼..."개나 닭처럼 죽을 것" [인터뷰]". 한국경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  12. ^ Da-gyum, Ji (2025-10-13). "Presidential office orders swift repatriation of Koreans trapped in Cambodia". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  13. ^ https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/east-asia/south-korean-student-tortured-cambodia-scam-b2843920.html