The issue of Cambodian scammers luring South Koreans for work has led to stricter government measures amid concerns it may reduce South Korean tourism to ASEAN, with Thailand and Vietnam as the largest markets for these tourists.
, South Korea is advancing protective measures and assistance for citizens victimized by scams involving forced labor in Cambodia. A special task force has been sent to engage with Cambodian authorities, including Prime Minister Hun Manet, who expressed deep condolences for the deaths of South Korean citizens and pledged to do everything possible to arrest suspects still at large, assuring the safety of South Korean nationals in Cambodia.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ordered a ban on travel to specific areas in Cambodia, including Bokor Mountain in Kampot Province, and the towns of Bavet and Poipet. This represents an escalation from a previous special travel advisory that only covered Phnom Penh.
Additionally, airport screenings have been intensified, with authorities questioning South Korean travelers headed to Cambodia. Reports indicate police have denied travel to several South Koreans exhibiting suspicious behavior linked to scammers—for example, a man in his 30s was barred from travel after claiming he quit his job and received a plane ticket to Cambodia via a junior acquaintance on Telegram. The man refused to reveal his Telegram chat history or specify his destination to officials.
The Korean Times reports that low-cost carriers (LCCs) may be affected by declining confidence among South Korean tourists, not only reducing travel to Cambodia but also to Vietnam and Thailand, which are popular destinations for Korean visitors.
These LCCs heavily rely on revenue from short- and medium-haul flights, making ticket sales to Southeast Asia a key market segment.
Data from South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport shows that in 2025 (January–August), over 1.95 million South Korean tourists traveled to ASEAN countries, ranking second only to Japan's 2.16 million.
Meanwhile, the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports South Korean tourists rank among the top five foreign visitors to Thailand, numbering about 1.1 million from January to September 2025, though this reflects a decline compared to the previous year.
Although current travel fears related to Cambodia may not immediately impact revenues, the situation is a negative signal for the outlook of low-cost carriers' earnings.
Market analysis firm FnGuide indicates most LCCs are expected to see significant profit declines in the third quarter of this year.
Jeju Air, for example, anticipates operating profits for July–September of 16.8 billion won (around 385 million baht), a 57.4% decrease year-on-year, while Jin Air expects a 35.3% profit drop over the same period.
As news of South Koreans being abducted in Cambodia dominates headlines, tour companies are also becoming more cautious. According to Hana Tour, travel to Southeast Asia accounted for 45% of all tour packages in the last quarter of the previous year.
Tourism industry experts expect the recent Cambodian developments to reduce demand for travel within Southeast Asia.
“Most tour companies are monitoring this issue closely because Cambodia is close to Vietnam and Thailand,” said an industry official.
“These two countries are major revenue sources for travel businesses; if the issue persists in the media, it will ultimately affect tour companies’ income.”
References:koreatimes ,thairath, chosun, Ministry of Tourism and Sports