Autopsy Confirms South Korean Student Tortured to Death in Cambodia

GYEONGBUK, South Korea, Nov 16: A South Korean university student found dead in Cambodia this past summer was killed by blunt force trauma after prolonged beatings and torture, according to a final autopsy report released by South Korea’s National Forensic Service (NFS) over the weekend.

The 22-year-old victim, identified by the surname Park, died from traumatic shock, with visible injuries consistent with sustained physical assault. Toxicology tests revealed no drugs in his system, countering earlier speculation that narcotics may have contributed to his death.

Park had traveled to Cambodia in late July 2025, reportedly for a short trip to attend an expo. His body was discovered in a car near Bokor Mountain in Kampot province on Aug 8, nearly three weeks after he left South Korea. Cambodian authorities noted multiple signs of torture, including bruises and wounds covering his body.

A joint autopsy was conducted by Korean and Cambodian officials at a Phnom Penh mortuary on Oct 20. Forensic specialists later completed comprehensive toxicology and tissue tests in South Korea before confirming the cause of death. The report ruled out stabbing, organ removal, or mutilation, dispelling circulating rumors about possible organ trafficking.

Authorities noted a caveat that if Park had been administered a small amount of drugs or if significant time had passed since ingestion, traces might have disappeared by the time of testing. This follows the release of a video showing Park appearing to be forcibly drugged, which had previously fueled public speculation.

Three Chinese nationals have been indicted in Cambodia for their alleged involvement in Park’s death. They were arrested on Oct 10, though two prime suspects, including a Chinese-Korean national surnamed Li, remain at large. South Korean investigators are actively pursuing their arrest.

Park’s death has intensified concerns in South Korea about growing human trafficking and criminal networks in Southeast Asia. South Korean police report 330 overseas kidnapping cases in the first eight months of 2025, up from 220 for the entirety of 2024, many linked to scam operations in Cambodia and neighboring countries.

The case has sparked renewed calls for stricter oversight and international cooperation to combat criminal exploitation of South Korean nationals abroad.