PHNOM PENH – The South Korean governnment has appointed former National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong as new Ambassador to Cambodia.

The appointment came amid a rise in online scams targeting South Koreans in Cambodia.

Kim is a graduate of the Korean National Police Agency. He served as head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's public safety bureau, commissioner of the National Police Agency, and consul in Sao Paulo, Brazil and the United States.

The appointment came as both countries bolster cooperation to combat scam networks, which have involved many South Korean workers among other nationals. 

Those involve include operators and victims of the networks’ predatory practices.

The rise of regional scam networks has placed Cambodia under intense scrutiny and tested its relations with South Korea. 

Tensions grew after the death of a South Korean student in Kampot province in October, an incident that provoked widespread anger among South Koreans at home and overseas. 

In response, the countries have intensified their cooperation by establishing a joint task force to strengthen efforts against transnational crime, including online scam operations. 

In October, 64 South Koreans involved in online scams were sent back to their country to face criminal probes. 

Ek Bunly, research fellow at the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies (CCRS), said that the appointment was not a surprise but sent a clear message about the priority of South Korea towards relations with Cambodia.

“Kim is a career police officer, not the traditional career diplomat and his appointment came after the serious issue that happened to Korean citizens in Cambodia recently,” Bunly said. 

Bunly said it was improtant for the South Korean embassy to be more active on crime-related issues such as stronger demands on investigation, efficient information sharing, and much more visibility and accountability towards the crackdown on scam networks. 

That was why future support for Cambodia could be in the form of more police training, digital forensics support and capacity-building to help police tackle organized crime. 

Asked if the appointment could be intepreted that the South Korean government lacks trust in local law enforcement, Bunly  said, “Such a pessimistic interpretation could fragment good bilateral ties.

“I think Seoul does this not only to protect its own national abroad but also to rebuild and ensure public confidence back home that Koreans are safe to enact their freedom of travel regardless of their destination.”