A South Korean national accused of running illegal online gambling operations that reportedly raked in billions of pesos has been arrested in Malate, Manila, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Lee Yong Jae, 46, was taken into custody recently at a building along Bocobo Street in Barangay 698 by agents from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit, with support from Korean authorities and the Manila Police District Station 5.
Lee has been on the radar of law enforcement in South Korea, where the Seoul Bukbu District Court issued a warrant for his arrest. He is also subject to a Red Notice from Interpol, effectively placing him on an international wanted list.
The BI said Lee’s arrest is part of a broader effort to modernize its enforcement operations by working more closely with foreign counterparts, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to step up action against transnational crimes.
South Korean officials consider Lee a major player in the region’s underground gambling scene. Since 2022, he is believed to have operated several baccarat websites, including one called “Phoenix,” targeting both Korean and Filipino users.
Investigators say he used multiple bank accounts and livestreams from hotel casinos in Southeast Asia to run the illicit enterprise, which reportedly earned him an estimated 215 billion Korean won — or over P9 billion.
The Korean Embassy in Manila confirmed Lee’s status as a fugitive in an October 2024 letter to Philippine authorities, describing him as a threat to public safety.
BI records show he has been tagged in two derogatory entries: a watchlist issued in October 2024 and a blacklist order dated January 2025, both citing his undesirability and fugitive status.
Lee is currently being held at the Ermita Police Station and faces local charges for violating Section 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. While those charges proceed, the BI has also begun deportation proceedings against him.