Coach Park Hang Seo was once nearly kidnapped in Cambodia.

Ex-head coach of Vietnam’s national team, Park Hang Seo, almost got kidnapped in Cambodia.

The story of Coach Park Hang-seo’s near kidnapping in Cambodia has attracted significant attention from football fans. He shared this experience on a TV program “Take Off Your Shoes and Be a Single Man.” On SBS channel, the former Vietnam national team coach recounted the terrifying experience he and his wife went through while working in Vietnam.

Coach Park Hang Seo said that during a 4-day holiday for Vietnam’s National Day, he and his wife decided to travel to Cambodia. However, what seemed like a peaceful trip almost turned into a tragedy. “When we arrived at the airport at 11 p.m., there were no taxis in sight. A young man approached and waved us over. I thought it was a normal service and got into the car,” he said.

As soon as he sat in the car, a feeling of unease came over him. “The music inside the car sounded strange, and the driver kept staring at my wallet. He even suggested exchanging Korean won for Vietnamese dong, which made me suspicious,” the Korean strategist recalled.

The situation worsened when the taxi suddenly turned off the main road and entered a dark, deserted area. “I knew the way home, but he said we were going to an ‘office.’ When I asked him to stop the car, he kept driving until we reached an empty lot, then he handed me a paper in Vietnamese asking me to sign, which I couldn’t understand,” the Korean coach said.

He added: “I thought I was being taken to a dangerous place. I told my wife to stay calm, then got out of the car, hoping someone would recognize me.” Fortunately, someone in the group recognized him and said: “Mr. Park? Park Hang-seo?” Then, the person believed to be the group leader appeared and safely escorted the couple away. “Now I can laugh about it, but at that moment it was truly terrifying for us.”, he said.

Coach Park Hang Seo’s story is not only a reminder of the hidden dangers when traveling in high-risk areas but also a warning about the rising transnational crime in Southeast Asia.