Cambodia: Cambodia is intensifying its media diplomacy in South Korea, with a high-level delegation from the Asian Journalist Association (AJA) pledging to counter misinformation and highlight the Kingdom's economic potential ahead of a major diplomatic milestone. H.E. Dr. Chhay Sophal, Secretary of State at Cambodia's Ministry of Information and current AJA President, met with Cambodian Ambassador H.E. Khuon Phon Rattanak in Seoul to finalize a strategy for "balanced and fair" reporting.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the initiative aims to bridge a perception gap among South Koreans, particularly following high-profile criminal incidents that have clouded bilateral relations. Lee Sang-ki, AJA's founding president, noted that his organization has actively worked to clarify that certain crimes committed on Cambodian soil involved foreign perpetrators, a nuance often lost in regional headlines.
To solidify this partnership, AJA proposed a formal information-sharing mechanism, including biannual briefings, multilingual outreach, and a 2027 press mission. Biannual briefings will involve regular strategy sessions between the Embassy and AJA leadership. Multilingual outreach will leverage AsiaN's four-language platform (Korean, English, Russian, and Pakistani) to promote Cambodian trade and tourism. The 2027 press mission will be a high-level media tour to Cambodia to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Ambassador Rattanak urged the network to prioritize Korean-language content, stressing that the Royal Government of Cambodia is not seeking favorable bias, but rather an objective portrayal of its crackdown on cybercrime and its developmental progress. "We only seek reporting that is factual, balanced, and fair for Cambodia," the Ambassador stated, specifically addressing the Royal Government's "iron-fist" approach to dismantling online criminal networks.