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

Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified them as Choi Wonchul, 59, and Lee Jihwan, 47, who were apprehended in Manila and Cebu, respectively, last Jan. 7.

Viado said the two fugitives from justive have been expelled and banned from re-entering the Philippines. 

In a statement, the BI said that Choi is “an overstaying alien and subject of a red notice from Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization).”

 "Choi is also subject of an arrest warrant from a district court in Seoul where he was charged with embezzlement and fraud under South Korea’s Criminal Act,” it said.

“Authorities charged that Choi worked as a car dealer in 2008 and pocketed approximately $65,000 of the payments made to him by customers,” it also said. 

 “He also allegedly defrauded other victims of $105,000 by falsely claiming he would sell their cars to interested buyers,” it added.

The BI said that Lee is an overstaying alien and is also a subject of an Interpol red notice.

“A warrant of arrest was issued against Lee in November last year by the Changwon District Court after he was accused of beating and robbing a compatriot,” it said. 

"Lee and his accomplice allegedly attacked their victim with an axe and struck the latter in the head which resulted in multiple injuries,” it also said.

“He then threatened and forced his victim to transfer 10 million won, or roughly $6,800, into his bank account while the latter was restrained with duct tapes,” it added.