[3][4][5] The island and the entire Trat province emerged as a crucial trading hub during the Rattanakosin era (1782-1932) due to its strategic location on the route to Siam's capital city.

[6] Following the decline of the piracy era, the island's inhabitants primarily relied on cultivating rubber, fruits, and coconut trees until the development of a local tourism industry in the 1990s.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has emphasized the need for "political maturity and national responsibility" in handling sensitive sovereignty issues, advocating for peaceful negotiations rather than public confrontation.

[11] The dispute highlights broader issues of national sovereignty, historical legacies, and regional diplomacy in Southeast Asia.

While Ko Kut remains internationally recognized as part of Thailand, the disagreement underscores the complexities of territorial and maritime claims in the region.