BI nabs South Korean fugitive

A South Korean national wanted for alleged illegal gambling activities involving unauthorized online game servers operated in the Philippines was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) during an entrapment operation in Taguig City on 13 October 2026.

In a press release issued Sunday, 25 October, the BI identified the fugitive as 41-year-old Lee Seunghyun, who was apprehended in Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig City.

BI said the operation followed a request from the South Korean government for Lee’s deportation to face charges in his home country. Lee is also reportedly the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.

According to information provided by the South Korean Embassy, the Busan District Court issued an arrest warrant against Lee on 15 January 2026, after he was charged with violating South Korea’s Game Industry Promotion Act.

South Korean authorities allege that, beginning in January 2019, Lee and his accomplices manipulated an interface adapter to operate three unauthorized private online game servers in Angeles City, Philippines.

The group allegedly generated illicit revenue by collecting cash payments from users in exchange for “Adena,” the game’s virtual currency, facilitating unauthorized monetary transactions through the servers.

BI records showed that Lee last arrived in the Philippines on 26 July 2018, and has remained in the country since then, making him an overstaying alien. He has also been included in the Bureau’s blacklist since August 2019 as a fugitive from justice.

Lee is currently detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig City pending the finality of the deportation proceedings against him.