The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, had a devastating impact on Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The regime aimed to create an agrarian communist society, leading to the forced evacuation of cities, mass executions, and severe famine. Approximately 1.7 million people, or nearly a quarter of the population, died due to starvation, overwork, and violence. Intellectuals, professionals, and ethnic minorities wereparticularly targeted, resulting in a catastrophic loss of cultural heritage and human capital. The Khmer Rouge's brutal policies left deep scars on Cambodian society that still influence the nation today, affecting its political, social, and economic landscape.