Park Chan-dae: “The abduction of Koreans in Cambodia has surged under the Yoon administration… It’s necessary to investigate the connection with ODA and the Unification Church.”

“ODA Surpasses 400 Billion by 2025… Bilateral Relations Tighten, But Public Safety Worsens”

‘Park Chan-dae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea who assisted in the rescue of two South Koreans kidnapped in Cambodia, emphasized the severity of the situation by stating, “As of the end of August, there have been 330 reports of suspected missing or kidnapped persons in Cambodia.”‘

In a radio interview on MBC’s , Park stated, “This is not a recent issue. The number of cases surged from around 17 in 2021 to hundreds by 2023-2025 after the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office in 2022. Last year, there were 220 cases, but by the end of August this year, 330 cases have already been reported.”

Park mentioned the need to investigate the structural reasons for the surge in kidnapping cases, noting, “There is a part we need to carefully analyze,” and added, “It’s particularly concerning that the amount of ODA (Official Development Assistance) to Cambodia has increased significantly.” He stated, “The accumulated ODA amount is nearing 1 trillion won, and the ODA budget for 2025 exceeds 400 billion won.”

He also highlighted that suspicions have been raised, suggesting, “There are allegations that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration or Kim Keon-hee might have connections with Unification Church businesses related to Cambodia.”

Park stressed the importance of a thorough understanding between Cambodia and South Korea, stating, “While a close relationship is being established between South Korea and Cambodia, the safety and lives of our citizens are becoming increasingly threatened. A comprehensive and cautious approach is definitely necessary to address these issues.”

▲ Park Chan-dae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea (file photo). ⓒYonhap News