A South Korean national accused of impersonating a police officer or financial advisor has been apprehended in the Philippines, where he had been hiding for eight years. The man was allegedly coercing fellow Koreans into divulging their personal bank data, enabling him to transfer their funds into his own account.

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(Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Immigration)

Lee Seul Ki, 37, reportedly acquired 178 million won, equivalent to US$130,000, from victims of his voice phishing syndicate. As a result, he was indicted in the Seoul and Nambu district courts on February 17, 2017.

However, before charges were filed and an arrest warrant issued, Ki had already fled to the Philippines, where he had been hiding since May 26, 2016.

On July 11, 2024, members of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) fugitive search unit located Ki in his condominium unit in the Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga.

Lee's arrest resulted from a mission order issued by the BI at the request of the South Korean government.

Lee's passport has already been canceled, according to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

"We will send him back to Korea after our board of commissioners has issued the order for his summary deportation. We will then include him in our blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the Philippines," Tansingco stated.

Lee is currently detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, awaiting deportation processing.