SEOUL - The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has defended its recent decision to raise the travel advisory level for certain parts of Cambodia, promising that the measure will be managed to avoid unduly affecting the livelihoods of Korean expatriates.

The MOFA's action, announced on October 16, designated parts of Cambodia—specifically Bokor Mountain in Kampot Province, Bavet City, and Poipet City—as Level 4 (Travel Ban) zones due to a surge in online scams targeting South Koreans. Sihanoukville Province was also elevated to Level 3 (Recommended Withdrawal). A Level 4 advisory mandates immediate evacuation or withdrawal from the area, with violations subject to legal penalties under the Passport Act.

The ministry's explanation comes after reports surfaced that a Korean resident, a strawberry farmer on Bokor Mountain, was unable to return to his residence following the ban's declaration while he was in Phnom Penh, claiming insufficient government assistance.

On October 19, the MOFA clarified that it had directly contacted the individual on October 16 to inform him of the travel ban. Recognizing the resident's need to visit his strawberry farm urgently, the ministry stated it "will operate the system with consideration so as not to cause disruption to the livelihoods of the Korean residents." Furthermore, the ministry confirmed it reassured the resident that he could safely return and assisted him with the process for an 'Exceptional Permit for Passport Use.'

The MOFA stressed its commitment to taking local residents' livelihoods into full account when operating the travel advisory system moving forward.