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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Extradited Korean drug kingpin Park Wang-yeol inspired K-film, series

Extradited Korean drug kingpin Park Wang-yeol inspired K-film, series

Published Mar 26, 2026 12:53 pm  |  Updated Mar 26, 2026 02:20 pm
Drug kingpin Park Wang-yeol upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport on March 25 (Screenshot from Channel A video)
Drug kingpin Park Wang-yeol upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport on March 25 (Screenshot from Channel A video)

Korean drug kingpin Park Wang-yeol, 48, was temporarily extradited from the Philippines to South Korea on March 25. 

He shot and killed three Koreans in Bacolod City, Philippines in 2016 and was sentenced to 60 years in prison by a Philippine court in 2022.

While living in the Philippines, he started a gambling business using investment funds received in exchange for harboring the three Koreans who fled to the Philippines after committing financial crimes in Korea. 

After a conflict arose with them about the distribution of profits, he killed them. 

Park Wang-yeol’s life became an inspiration for scenes in the Korean movie “The Roundup 2” and the Disney+ series “Big Bet.” The character played by actor Lee Suk in “Big Bet” was created based on Park, reports stated. 

The Korean series
The Korean series "BIg Bet" (SLL)

Last March 3, Korean President Lee Jae-myung personally requested the temporary extradition of Park from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the Korea-Philippines Summit. 

“On behalf of the people of the Republic of Korea, I express my deep gratitude to President Marcos of the Philippines for our friendship and cooperation for justice,” Lee posted on X.

Following close consultations between the Korean Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Service, Prosecutors' Office, and National Police Agency with Philippine authorities, Park was temporarily extradited approximately one month after the request was made.

The Korean government plans to immediately hand over Park, who is suspected of smuggling, distributing, and selling large quantities of narcotics from the Philippines to Korea through accomplices, to investigative agencies and strictly prosecute him through a thorough investigation, according to a statement by the Korean police. 

The Korean government pursued the swift repatriation of Park, judging that even though he is incarcerated in a Philippine prison, neglecting his criminal activities, such as domestic drug trafficking, would undermine judicial justice and raise concerns about copycat crimes by inmates in other overseas prisons.

In addition, the Korean government plans to uncover the true nature of the drug trafficking organization in which Park participated, and to thoroughly track down and recover the proceeds of crime acquired.

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