President Lee Jae Myung stressed the need to protect and quickly repatriate the South Korean targets of crimes in Cambodia, stating that preserving citizens’ lives and safety is the government’s highest responsibility.

The president made the remarks on Tuesday during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul's Yongsan District, urging relevant ministries to accelerate the establishment of a regular cooperative system between the two nations' law enforcement in collaboration with the Cambodian government.

Lee also called for immediate action on missing-person reports and verification processes, emphasizing that the government should implement all available measures to ensure citizens’ safety without delay.

To prevent similar incidents, Lee highlighted the need to strengthen travel restrictions in high-risk areas and equip overseas missions to immediately respond to citizens' requests.

Noting reports that South Koreans and government officials have been using personal funds to assist crime victims, Lee stressed that budget constraints should not hinder official response efforts and called for the immediate mobilization of all available resources.