Key facts
- Incidents involving South Koreans in 10 countries under travel advisory rose 48.3% in 2025.
- Total cases in 2025 were 4,016, up from 2,708 in 2024.
- Cases of losing contact increased to 617 from 248.
- Kidnapping and confinement cases rose to 553 from 246.
- Suspected missing cases jumped to 188 from 38.
- China saw the largest increase in incidents, with 1,580 cases in 2025.
The number of accidents and incidents involving South Korean nationals in 10 countries under Seoul's travel advisory rose nearly 50% in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to data from the foreign ministry and the National Police Agency. The 10 countries are Russia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cambodia, Thailand, China, El Salvador, Mexico, Lebanon, Iran and Laos. Cases of losing contact saw the sharpest rise, increasing to 617 in 2025 from 248 in 2024. Kidnapping and confinement more than doubled to 553 last year from 246 in 2024, while suspected missing cases jumped nearly five times to 188. China saw the largest increase in incidents, with cases rising to 1,580 from 1,133. In Cambodia, incidents rose by 569 to 917, accounting for 43.5% of the total year-on-year increase among the 10 countries. A dedicated police unit for crimes involving South Koreans was launched in Cambodia last November to address rising crimes targeting Koreans, such as online scams.