A South Korean national accused of kidnapping and serious physical injury in his home country was arrested in Pasay City, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed Friday.

The individual was identified as Jang Seongwoong, 47, who was apprehended on 22 May. Authorities said he had been on the run since 2017 and was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued in 2019.

An Interpol Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence.

The 47-year-old is wanted in South Korea for allegedly detaining and beating a compatriot over unpaid gambling debts.

Korean authorities said Seongwoong, along with others, used a baseball bat in the assault, leaving the victim with serious injuries. Before the Interpol alert, a court in Daegu had issued a warrant for his arrest.

The BI said the fugitive entered the Philippines as a tourist in May 2017 and had been overstaying. In 2021, the bureau’s Board of Commissioners ordered his deportation.

“He was thus arrested on the strength of a deportation warrant which was issued pursuant to the said deportation order. He was included in our blacklist, which perpetually bans him from re-entering the country,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.

Seongwoong is currently held at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City pending deportation.

Meanwhile, Russian content creator Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, currently detained for allegedly harassing Filipinos in public, has asked Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to drop the charges against him, citing mental health concerns.

Despite the appeal, Remulla said Zdorovetskiy must face the consequences of his actions. He said charges of unjust vexation will be filed next week against Zdorovetskiy, who was accused of harassing three security guards in a viral video.

Remulla confirmed that the vlogger’s legal team had approached the guards to settle the matter privately, but the guards refused and opted to pursue the case in court.

Zdorovetskiy, known for prank videos, drew backlash after footage circulated showing him “harassing” Filipinos. The incident has since sparked criticism, with many calling the stunt disrespectful and insensitive.