"Not Just a Prince Group Issue, a Moment of Truth... Decisive Action Needed," Cambodian Editorial Says

by Lee Kyungho

Published 20 Oct.2025 14:05(KST)

Prince Bank located in the Prince Group headquarters building in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo by Yonhap News

As Cambodia has become the subject of international sanctions due to allegations of human trafficking and illegal confinement, local media have voiced concerns about the country’s declining international reputation and have called for decisive action from the government.

The Cambodian news outlet Cambodianess argued this point in an editorial titled "The Prince Group Case: A Moment of Truth?" published on the 19th (local time). In the editorial, the outlet pointed out, "With the Prince Group, led by businessman Chen Zhi, now being labeled as a 'transnational criminal organization,' Cambodia is attracting global attention for all the wrong reasons." The editorial continued, "Sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Kingdom are not simply targeting a single large private corporation," adding, "This incident has dealt a direct blow to the credibility of Cambodia as a whole, which is increasingly perceived as a new hub for financial and cybercrime in Southeast Asia."

On the morning of the 20th, some Cambodian extradition suspects who completed the pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) at the Hongseong Branch of the Daejeon District Court in Hongseong, Chungnam, exited the courtroom and boarded the bus they had arrived in. Photo by Yonhap News

The outlet went on to state, "This case has already been covered by major media outlets around the world, and Cambodia's name is now emerging as the center of a historic international operation against online scam organizations." The editorial noted, "While the government has stated that it will cooperate if there is an official request accompanied by evidence, such cautious wording seems more defensive than indicative of a willingness to change." It further warned, "As a result, we cannot rule out a 'domino effect,' with investors moving their capital to countries perceived as safer. Without decisive action, there is a risk that Cambodia's national image will be gradually damaged. Under the global spotlight, Cambodia is once again being seen as a 'gray zone nation' where the boundaries between the legitimate economy and transnational crime are blurred."

The outlet emphasized, "This scandal goes beyond the personal issues of Chen Zhi," adding, "It fundamentally raises questions about Cambodia's development model itself-specifically, whether a sustainable economy can truly be built on an attitude that tacitly tolerates dubious sources of capital." Concluding the editorial, the outlet stated, "If Cambodia wishes to break away from such practices, it must treat this incident as a 'moment of truth,' that is, as an opportunity for change. Otherwise, Cambodia will pay the price of losing the trust of part of the international community in the long run."