Kim Seongsu, Chairman of Korean Chamber
Korean entrepreneurs operating in Cambodia are viewing the recent armed conflicts and airstrikes occurring in the Cambodia-Thailand border region with grave concern.
The news that a new peace agreement was signed at noon today, December 27, is certainly a welcome development. Furthermore, the announcement that 18 detained Cambodian soldiers will be released if the ceasefire holds for three days is regarded as a significant signal toward easing tensions. However, the anxiety and tension felt on the ground have not yet been fully dissipated.
Due to this crisis, hundreds of thousands of civilians near the border have been forced to flee their homes. Children and the elderly are enduring each day in temporary tents and substandard conditions; farmers have lost their land, and small business owners and workers have lost their livelihoods. This is a clear humanitarian crisis that goes beyond a mere military conflict.
Overcoming Economic Crises
KOCHAM does not wish to comment on every detail of the domestic political situations of Thailand and Cambodia. We simply believe that the protection of human life, the overcoming of economic crises, and the restoration of daily life must be held as the highest values. Instability in the border region is not a problem confined to a specific country. It directly impacts all foreign companies, investors, and the overall regional economy operating within Cambodia.
Numerous South Korean companies and expatriate entrepreneurs are working hard alongside local employees in various sectors in Cambodia, including finance, manufacturing, garments, and services. Border instability disrupts supply chains, sharply dampens investor sentiment, and, in the long term, hinders regional economic recovery. Above all, it is most urgent for innocent displaced persons and citizens to return to their homes, resume their businesses, go back to their workplaces, and for children to return to school.
Must Lead To Sustainable Peace
This ceasefire must not remain a temporary political choice; it must lead to sustainable peace. We strongly urge that the promised ceasefire be implemented in good faith, that humanitarian measures be executed swiftly, and that the release of detainees and the protection of civilians be substantially guaranteed.
KOCHAM looks forward to the Cambodian government, the international community, and all relevant parties easing tensions through dialogue and ending the vicious cycle of armed conflict. Only trust and cooperation—not gunfire and bombings—can bring stability and prosperity to this region. Peace is more than just a political achievement; it is life itself for the people.
We sincerely hope that peaceful daily life returns to the border and that today’s ceasefire marks the starting point for true peace.
Kim Seongsu
Chairman, The Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cambodia (KOCHAM)
