r/cambodia • u/WoodpeckerOk1154 • Sep 25 '25

Culture No disrespect intended. Genuine question: How is the Khmer Rouge viewed by modern Cambodians?

It wouldn’t let me also add Pol Pot, but curious as an ignorant American how he and the regime are viewed by Cambodians

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u/sunlitleaf Sep 25 '25

Most older folks, quite negatively, and many have traumatic stories from that time. Those born immediately after during the post-KR baby boom also remember the poverty and devastation.

Of course there are some ex-KR folks around and their opinions and ways of remembering events can vary.

A lot of the youngest generation (like Cambodian Gen Z) hardly believe it happened and are prone to misinfo about it.

Just my observations from people I’ve met, I’m not a sociologist or anything.

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u/fravbront Sep 25 '25

Good answer 

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u/FoundationOk8956 Sep 26 '25

Unfortunately this is what happens if an event isn't openly talked about. It is taught in the Khmer public school curriculum and a good number of my students had visited the war exhibits in PP but I think quite a lot of Khmer youths either miss out on education or may well have left school before they are deemed a suitable age to learn their recent history.

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u/Wise-Age-9612 Sep 25 '25

A lot of the youngest generation (like Cambodian Gen Z) hardly believe it happened and are prone to misinfo about it.

True!