Korean mini-POGO in Clark busted

A small-scale online gambling operation allegedly run by South Korean nationals inside a luxury condominium in the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, was busted by authorities, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Sunday.

Operatives from the BI-Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) arrested seven Korean nationals on 13 October after discovering a makeshift betting hub during a joint operation with South Korean authorities, the Philippine Air Force, and the Clark Development Corporation.

FSU Chief Rendel Ryan Sy said the operation initially aimed to capture one Korean fugitive hiding in the area, but authorities instead found seven men operating computer workstations linked to illegal sports-betting websites.

One of the suspects, 23-year-old Ha Dong Jun, was confirmed to be overstaying in the Philippines following the government’s 2024 ban on POGO operations.

The seven Korean nationals are now detained at the BI facility in Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.