South Korean fugitives deported

Two South Korean fugitives apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will soon be deported to face charges for crimes they allegedly committed in their country.

According to BI commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado, the two Korean fugitives were taken into custody last 7 and 8 January following operations conducted by the BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) in Metro Manila and Cebu.

“Because they are unwanted foreigners, we will evict them and prevent them from returning. The Philippines is not a haven for wanted criminals,” Viado said.

The first fugitive was identified as Choi Wonchul, a 59-year-old who was arrested last 7 January along UN Avenue in Ermita, Manila. He was an overstaying alien and the subject of a red notice from Interpol.

The BI chief disclosed that Choi is also the subject of a warrant of arrest from a district court in Seoul where he was charged with embezzlement and fraud under South Korea’s Criminal Act.

The South Korean authorities accused Choi of working as a car dealer in 2008 and keeping approximately US$65,000 of the money that consumers paid him.

By making fraudulent claims that he would sell their cars to interested buyers, Choi is also charged with defrauding additional victims out of US$105,000.

He was taken into custody by the PNP-MPD at the Custodial Section, MPD Headquarters, UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila, pending the legal outcome of his local case.

Meanwhile, the second fugitive, identified as Lee Jihwan, was also apprehended by BI-FSU operatives in Talisay City, Cebu, on 8 January. Lee is also the subject of an Interpol red notice and was also an overstaying alien.

According to the Bureau, a warrant of arrest was issued against him in November 2024 by the Changwon District Court after he was accused of beating and robbing a compatriot.

Lee and his accomplice allegedly used an axe to attack their victim, striking him in the head and causing several injuries.

The BI disclosed that Lee had used duct tape to hold his victim, threatened them, and forced them to transfer 10 million won, or around US$6,800, into his bank account.