2 South Korean 'fugitives' arrested


Two South Korean nationals, who are wanted in their country for various criminal offenses, have been arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

The BI on Friday, Oct. 18. identified them as  Choi Jonguk, 42, and  Seo Jungchul, 37, who are now detained at the bureau's facility in Taguig City for deportation.

It said that the operatives of the BI’s Fugitive Search unit (BI-FSU) arrested Choi and Seo on Oct. 12 in Paranaque City and on Oct. 7 in Angeles City, Pampanga, respectively.

“Both Choi and Seo are considered as undocumented aliens as their passports have already been revoked by their government,” it also said. 

“Choi has been on the BI’s wanted list since 2019 when he was charged with operating an illegal gambling website that catered to Korean customers who bet on the results of sports competitions,” the BI said. 

“He allegedly made money by selling sports betting tickets online in violation of his country’s national sports promotion act,” it also said. 

On the other hand, the BI said that “Seo is the subject of a deportation order issued in 2019 for being an undesirable alien.”

“He is the subject of an Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) red notice and has been overstaying in the Philippines in an attempt to evade arrest and prosecution for his crimes in Korea,” it said.

“A warrant for Seo's arrest was reportedly issued by the Seoul Central District Court in 2017 after he was indicted for violating his country’s narcotics control act,” it also said. 

According to South Korean authorities, the BI said that “Seo engaged in the purchase, consumption and trading of Philopon, a form of methamphetamine, which is a commonly abused drug substance in Korea.”