By Lane Afable, News Editor
Agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested three South Korean nationals who are wanted in their home country in a separate enforcement operations in Clark, Pampanga recently.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said operatives from the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), in coordination with Korean authorities and local law enforcement partners, arrested Korean nationals Kim Hyunjin, 33; Lee Jong Ha, 32; and Choi Kijun, 40, in separate operations conducted within the Clark Freeport Zone.
Viado said the arrests demonstrate the Philippines’ continued commitment to preventing the country from becoming a sanctuary for foreign fugitives.
“The Philippines will not serve as a refuge for foreign nationals fleeing prosecution abroad,” said Viado. “Through close coordination with international law enforcement agencies, we will continue tracking down and deporting fugitives involved in cybercrime, illegal gambling, fraud, and other serious offenses.”
Authorities reported that Kim was arrested along Claro M. Recto Highway inside the Clark Freeport Zone that afternoon.
Kim is a subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued in June 2025 and arrest warrants released by Korean courts for alleged involvement in large-scale illegal online sports betting operations.
According to Korean authorities, Kim and his accomplices allegedly operated illegal gambling websites, handling an estimated KRW 205.3 billion or 135 million USD in deposits and laundering proceeds through multiple accounts. He was reported overseeing operations at least 12 illegal gambling websites in Daegu between 2024 and 2025.
During the same operation, agents also encountered Lee, who was found to have active blacklist and watchlist orders for undesirability due to his status as a fugitive from justice in South Korea. Lee reportedly faces charges for violations of South Korea’s National Sports Promotion Act.
Earlier that day, FSU agents arrested Choi at a condominium complex inside Clark Freeport Zone. Korean authorities sought his arrest for multiple offenses, including fraud, violation of the Electronic Financial Transactions Act, and physical injury.
Investigators alleged that Choi illegally transferred bank account access credentials used in financial crimes, fraudulently obtained approximately KRW 12 million or more than 7,000 USD through a fake collateral scheme, and assaulted another Korean national during an altercation in 2018.
Korean law enforcement recently informed BI of Choi’s crimes, prompting FSU to conduct an investigation and launch a manhunt against him.
Immigration records further showed that Choi arrived in the Philippines in June 2022 as a temporary visitor and has been overstaying since October 2023.
The three foreign nationals are currently undergoing booking and documentation procedures before their transfer to the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility pending deportation proceedings.
