Cambodian Community in South Korea Celebrates Pchum Ben Festival

Mr. Seng Sakda, Secretary of State, representing H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, and H.E. Khun Phonratana, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Cambodia to the Republic of Korea, attended the Pchum Ben festival organized by the Gwangju Foreign Worker Support Center and the Cambodian community in the Gwangju region of the Republic of Korea on Wednesday, September 24, 2026. The event saw a large turnout of approximately 5,000 Cambodian community members and workers residing and working in the Gwangju area. The Pchum Ben festival was organized with the aim of dedicating merit to ancestors, particularly to the heroes and soldiers of Cambodia who sacrificed their lives during the war, as well as to deceased relatives and friends. Simultaneously, the event provided an opportunity for the Cambodian community in the Republic of Korea to gather and foster close and warm fellowship. Participation in this traditional national event not only contributes to the preservation and promotion of Cambodian traditions, culture, and national identity but also serves to share nostalgia for the homeland and strengthen the solidarity, unity, and closeness of Cambodian citizens living and working in the Republic of Korea. During his remarks, Mr. Seng Sakda conveyed the profound greetings and well wishes from Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to all Cambodian community members and workers residing and working in the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the Secretary of State encouraged Cambodian workers to continue their work with a spirit of responsibility and to the best of their abilities, while adhering to the laws, internal regulations, and standards of the host country. He also urged Cambodian workers to understand and respect Korean culture, traditions, and lifestyle to help maintain the honor, dignity, and good reputation of the Cambodian people. The Pchum Ben festival took place in an atmosphere of joy, solidarity, and warmth, demonstrating the unity of the Cambodian community in the Republic of Korea in preserving the noble traditions, culture, and customs of the Khmer nation, despite living far from their homeland.