Korean Traveler Defends Cambodia Against 'Malicious' YouTube Video, Questions Thailand's Motives

 

Cambodia is seen by her neighbours - to the East and West generally - as a poor country with half of the population known to be "beggars" and the people are still "mentally and intellectually backward and uneducated". 

 

Thailand, for example, on the other hand is a country of over 70 million people with far greater income per capita; better educated and wealthier citizens, some of whom are part of Thailand's organised cyber army online formed to project a positive image of Thailand on the international stage while painting negative pictures of its neighbours such as Cambodia. In the wake of the recent border conflict Thailand attempted to cripple Cambodia further economically by shutting down border crossings between the two countries as well as reportedly cutting access to the internet via Thailand. 

 

Most of international media reporters who came to cover the border conflict were based in Bangkok (as they were in the 2008 -11 war) and viewed the situation through Thai lens - or 'Thailand'! When one travels and observes one will often find that most countries have their share of things that are either positive or unsavoury while the unsavoury ones generally have nothing to do with the greater majority of the people in those countries. 

 

The vast majority of Cambodian people possess that warmth, caring and nobility in their national trait or character and the 'poorer' they are the more pronounced these characteristics become. It's arguably partly or mainly this instinctive national trait that places trust, kindness, principle and fraternity before caution and craft that has rendered Cambodia an easy prey for her voracious neighbours - as being witnessed to this very day.

 

- Social media 

 

 

 

 

 

PHNOM PENH, July 6, 2026 – A Korean traveler has publicly condemned a YouTube video that allegedly portrays Cambodia as a dangerous "scam site," defending the Kingdom's safety and criticizing what he described as an attempt to distort the country's image for views.

 

In a social media post, Kwon Jae-min expressed strong disapproval of the video, stating that he has visited Cambodia many times and knows the local situation well. He described Cambodia as a country rich in historical and cultural heritage, such as Angkor Wat, and emphasized that the locals are "innocent and kind." He added that travelers can visit safely if they follow basic safety protocols and obey the law.

 

Mr. Kwon accused the YouTuber of spreading false incitement and extreme fear to raise views, calling the content "malicious" and "provocative." He questioned why the YouTuber did not address issues in Thailand, including taxi and ferry thefts, call center fraud, and land scams targeting foreigners—problems that, he said, regularly appear in the news.

 

"If you are going to destroy someone else's country, please look at your own country's fraud and crime issues first," he wrote.

 

Mr. Kwon also pointed out that the Cambodian government has been taking strong measures to combat international financial crimes and illegal call center operations, and that major tourist destinations such as Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are safe for travelers who exercise basic common sense.

 

He further questioned whether the real scam and crime targeting tourists is in Thailand, citing notorious land fraud around the royal palace, unfair fines targeting foreigners, and the country's role as a money laundering corridor for large-scale illegal call center fraud.

 

"Before blaming others, solve the serious crime rate and judicial gap in your own country," he concluded.