Choeung Ek
| Choeung Ek | |
|---|---|
| Khmer name | ជើងឯក |
| Also known as | Killing Field |
| Site type | Memorial |
| Location | Dangkao, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh |
| Country | Cambodia |
| Period | Used by the Khmer Rouge between 1977 and 1979 |
| Subjects | History & Remembrance; Religion & Spiritual Life |
Choeung Ek is a memorial in Dangkao, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Wikipedia)
History
Choeung Ek was a former orchard about 17 kilometres south of Phnom Penh that was used by the Khmer Rouge as an execution and burial site between 1977 and 1979. Most victims were transported there from the Tuol Sleng detention centre, executed, and buried in mass graves. After the Khmer Rouge was toppled in 1979, mass graves were unearthed and thousands of remains were exhumed. (Wikipedia; UNESCO)
Significance
The site commemorates victims of the Cambodian genocide and contains a Buddhist stupa with over 5,000 skulls and other human remains. In Khmer Buddhism, death by violent acts is viewed unfavourably because tradition states that the spirits of the dead may remain at the site and be prevented from reincarnation. In 2025, Choeung Ek was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Cambodian Memorial Sites. (Wikipedia; UNESCO)
Stewardship
Since the Municipality of Phnom Penh entered into a 30-year agreement with JC Royal Co. in 2005, the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center has been managed by the JC Royal Company, a Japanese company also responsible for maintenance of the roads to the centre. The memorial was constructed by Cambodian authorities. (Wikipedia; UNESCO)
Visiting
Choeung Ek is a popular tourist attraction in Phnom Penh. In 2007, 300 to 400 people visited the site per day during the low season, increasing to 400 to 600 people per day during the high season. (Wikipedia; UNESCO)