AKP Phnom Penh, March 30, 2026 --

The Cambodian community in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province, hosted a vibrant celebration of the Khmer New Year (Sankranta) and the Solidarity Flower Festival (Fund-Raising Festival) on Sunday, drawing approximately 1,000 attendees from both the Cambodian and local Korean populations.

The event, held on Mar. 29, was presided over by H.E. Khuon Phon Rattanak, Cambodia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, alongside senior embassy officials. The festivities were also honoured by the presence of Hongseong County Governor Lee Yeoung-lock, local members of the National Assembly, and representatives from the Hongseong Migrant Worker Support Centre.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Khuon Phon Rattanak expressed his gratitude to Governor Lee for providing the venue and administrative support, noting that the gathering offered a vital opportunity for Cambodian nationals to reconnect, alleviate the stresses of work, and foster communal bonds with their Korean hosts.

The Ambassador highlighted that the Sankranta celebrations in Hongseong serve as a significant platform for preserving and promoting Khmer cultural traditions abroad. He further emphasised that such cultural exchanges signify a deepening of people-to-people ties between the two nations, underscoring the strengthening "Strategic Partnership" between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Korea.

A vibrant Khmer New Year celebration in Hongseong

By K. Rithy Reak