Korean fugitive wanted for fraud, estafa nabbed

Elements of the National Bureau of Investigation–Organized and Transnational Crimes Division (NBI-OTCD), under the supervision of NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration–Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU), arrested a Korean fugitive in Malate, Manila on 3 June 2025.

Records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) identified the fugitive as Kim Yooshil, also known as Kim Yooshik. He is considered an undesirable and overstaying alien, posing a risk to public safety and security. This is based on an official communication from Consul Yun Wonchang of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, dated 17 April 2023.

An Interpol Blue Notice was previously issued against Kim, indicating he has an outstanding warrant of arrest for fraud under Article 347-(1) of the Korean Criminal Act. The case stems from a 2008 investment scam, in which he allegedly defrauded a victim of over KRW 10,000,000.

Further verification with the BI database revealed that Kim is subject to an active Blacklist Order dated 22 June 2023, and a Watchlist Order issued on 5 April 2023 — both for being a fugitive from justice.

NBI records also show that Kim has a standing warrant of arrest in the Philippines for estafa. He has also faced prior charges including falsification of public documents, malicious mischief, grave threat, damage to property, and human trafficking.

Kim is currently detained at the NBI-OTCD office for investigation and standard booking and arrest procedures. He will be turned over to the custody of the BI-FSU for deportation proceedings.