Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s iconic tourist attraction (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent spate of violent crimes targeting South Koreans in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries has dampened public confidence in travel to the region, according to a new survey released Thursday.
The Realmeter poll, conducted on Oct. 21 among 504 adults nationwide, found that 82.4 percent of respondents said the incidents in Cambodia had affected their perception of traveling to Southeast Asia. Among those in their 20s, the figure rose to 88.3 percent — the highest of any age group, reflecting heightened concern among younger travelers.
When asked how the government should respond to crimes against its citizens abroad, 34.7 percent favored “close cooperation and joint investigations” with local authorities, while 27.5 percent called for “strong diplomatic protests and prevention agreements.” Roughly a quarter — 25.2 percent — supported taking “military or forceful action.”
The Foreign Ministry’s initial response drew significant criticism: 56 percent rated it as inadequate, compared with 35.9 percent who viewed it favorably.
Amid growing political scrutiny, 57 percent of respondents said they believed irregularities such as rushed administration or vested-interest meddling may have occurred in Cambodia-related aid projects initiated under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government.
Looking ahead, 52.9 percent said Seoul should continue economic and development cooperation with Cambodia but strengthen oversight, while 33 percent favored terminating such partnerships altogether.
Asked why young Koreans are particularly vulnerable to overseas job scams, 38.4 percent cited “a lack of quality domestic jobs,” followed by “unequal pay and working conditions” (18.7 percent), “insufficient youth employment policy” (15.7 percent), and “lack of information” (15 percent).
The poll, conducted via automated random digit dialing on mobile phones, had a response rate of 4.4 percent and a margin of error of ±4.4 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
