Courtesy: CalvinAyre.com
A SOUTH Korean national, identified as 37-year-old Lee Jong-hak, has been apprehended in Las Piñas City by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Fugitive Search Unit.
The arrest, which occurred on April 14 in Barangay Pamplona Dos, was a collaborative effort involving the Korean National Police Agency and the Philippine National Police. Lee is a fugitive wanted in South Korea for his alleged involvement in large-scale illegal online gambling operations.
The apprehension of Lee Jong-hak was prompted by a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in 2025.
This notice was based on an arrest warrant released by the Incheon District Court in South Korea. The charges against Lee relate to violations of his country’s National Sports Promotion Act, specifically concerning the operation of illegal online gambling websites. Records indicate that Lee and his associates managed at least 23 such websites, facilitating sports betting and casino-style games, recruiting participants, and handling financial transactions.
Investigations reveal that Lee’s criminal enterprise generated substantial profits, estimated to be over KRW 5.33 billion (approximately $3.6 million), with total earnings potentially exceeding KRW 350 billion (around $238 million).
BI records show that Lee last entered the Philippines in 2024 on a probationary permanent resident visa. However, his presence in the country was later flagged, leading to his inclusion in the bureau’s blacklist and watch list as an undesirable alien and a fugitive from justice.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado lauded the successful operation, emphasizing the strengthened coordination between the BI and international law enforcement agencies.
“This arrest demonstrates our strengthened coordination with international law enforcement agencies and our unwavering commitment to protect the country from transnational crimes, particularly illegal online gambling operations that exploit our systems and communities,” Viado stated. The arrest of Lee Jong-hak highlights the Philippines’ role in combating transnational criminal activities and its dedication to upholding international justice.
