News broke that BJ Forest Dog had gone missing after broadcasting live from a Cambodian crime syndicate. This, coupled with local kidnappings and imprisonment incidents, has fueled calls for a Cambodian travel ban. We've compiled a detailed report, including a recent surge in Korean victims.

1. BJ Forest Dog broadcast live from Cambodian crime syndicate

Recently, BJ Forest Dog's live broadcast to Cambodia has become a hot topic of controversy on social media and online communities.

He personally went to the 'Won-gu Complex' (also known as the crime complex) on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and held a one-man protest demanding, "Release the Koreans."

During the broadcast, the local atmosphere was conveyed by live broadcasting the situation on the spot, such as, “The inside of the complex is empty” and “The wall is about 3 meters high and has barbed wire fence.”

 

But a little while later, a person who appeared to be a member of the organization came out from inside and filmed BJ's face, and the tension increased after that.

 

 

In response, the SOOP side requested that the broadcast be stopped, saying, “It could be a threat to personal safety,” and eventually BJ SOOP Dog ended the broadcast.
He later posted on the bulletin board, “I am currently moving to my accommodations and am safe,” but there has been no further update since the afternoon of the 13th.

 

2. The rapid increase in kidnappings and detentions of Koreans in Cambodia.

In fact, the BJ Forest Dog incident is not something that will end as a simple 'broadcasting incident'.
This is because the number of kidnappings and detentions of Koreans has been increasing explosively in Cambodia recently.

 

 

Starting with the incident in August of this year where a college student from Yecheon, Gyeongbuk died after being tortured,
Reports are pouring in from all over the country, including Gyeongbuk, Chungbuk, and Gwangju, that “family members who went to Cambodia have lost contact.”

 

Some people received threatening phone calls saying, “If you send 20 million won, you will be released.”

Police have even confirmed that some people's accounts were used to launder voice phishing funds.

There is even testimony from a victim who said he was held captive for a week, surviving on just 10 bottles of water.

 

In this situation, the fact that BJ went into the local crime syndicate and broadcast came as a shock to many people.

3. Growing 'Cambodiaphobia'... Calls for a travel ban spread

Now, ‘Cambodiaphobia’ is spreading rapidly among the general public.

 

The community is flooded with posts saying, “Never go to Cambodia,” and “The government should designate it as a travel ban country.”

In fact, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Cambodia is the country with the highest incidence of kidnapping and detention (221 cases).

This is a whopping 14 times that of Vietnam (16 cases), which ranked second.

 

However, the travel industry maintains that “package travelers are relatively safe.”
Nonetheless, trip cancellation inquiries are rapidly increasing among independent travelers, especially female travelers in their 20s and 30s.

4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Special Travel Advisory and Safety Warning

Currently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating some areas of Cambodia. A 'special travel advisory' has been issued.

 

This is a measure that is implemented when there is a high risk of terrorism, kidnapping, or public security instability.
In practice, it is only a recommendation to refrain from traveling, but in the current situation, it is being interpreted as a strong warning equivalent to a 'travel ban'.

 

The government announced that it would strengthen its response by establishing a Korean desk in local police stations, but
A practical solution is not easy due to the lack of cooperation from local police.

5. Key Issues Ahead: Confirming BJ Forest Dog's Safety and Government Response

As of now, the exact location and condition of BJ Forest Dog have not been officially confirmed.

 

The forest (SOOP) side is also quiet without further notice,
Concerns are growing in the community, with people asking, “Could she have been kidnapped?” and “There has been no news since the broadcast.”

 

This incident is not simply an individual action,
It is spreading as a serious social issue that is closely related to the safety of Koreans in Cambodia.

 

Q&A

 

Q1. Is it okay to travel to Cambodia now?
A. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a special travel advisory, we advise you to refrain from unnecessary travel. In particular, please avoid visiting areas near crime hotspots like Phnom Penh and Kampot.

 

Q2. Where is BJ Forest Dog now?
A. Lastly, after the post saying “On the way to the accommodation,” there has been no contact since the afternoon of the 13th.
There is no official confirmation as of now.

 

Q3. Is it possible to cancel or get a refund for my trip?
A. As there is currently no official government travel ban, cancellations of general airline tickets and accommodations will be processed according to the terms and conditions.

However, refunds may become possible in the future if the government designates a country as a travel ban country.

 

Q4. Are other Southeast Asian countries besides Cambodia safe?
A. Neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand are considered relatively safe,
There have been recent reports of similar job scams and kidnapping attempts, so caution is advised.

 

 

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