Korean YouTuber Finds Cambodia's Hidden Side—and a $400 Surprise

PHNOM PENH, June 29, 2026 – A travel video by popular South Korean YouTuber Heechulism, featuring his recent trip to Cambodia, has gone viral with over 230,000 views in just two days, offering viewers a "plot twist" on the country.

The video, titled "'Public Enemy' Cambodia's Hidden Daily Life and Twist," was uploaded on June 25. Heechulism, whose channel has 1.22 million subscribers, visited Cambodia for the third time to see for himself the difference between crime reports and the actual local situation.

During his trip, Heechulism left a wallet containing approximately US$400 in a vehicle. He contacted the driver and successfully retrieved it intact—an experience that became a defining moment of his visit. "I loved seeing people's smiles," he said, expressing his impression of Cambodian people's honesty and warmth.

The video begins at Phnom Penh's new airport and then takes viewers to a "garbage village" on the outskirts of the city, where residents sort through trash for a living. He also visited a school run by missionaries for children near the landfill, highlighting education challenges.

Heechul explored Phnom Penh's history and daily life, visiting the Central Market, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Riverside, and Chinatown. He discussed topics such as the Khmer Rouge era, the widespread use of the US dollar, and the boycott of Thai products.

While acknowledging that general disturbance exists, Heechul has emphasized that these should not be interpreted as reflecting the tendencies of the general Cambodian population. He pointed to multinational criminal organizations and the need for government cooperation.

The video concludes that while crime and judicial issues still exist, the places he visited were different from the images repeatedly presented by the Korean press.

— Source: Heechulism YouTube Channel, June 29, 2026

https://youtu.be/YKQ1DhH90jw?si=d5HQMnvBmZu7Y_JS

Reported by The Khmer Today