Park Wang-yeol, 48, the so-called "drug king," who was serving time in the Philippines for the "sugarcane field murders" of three Koreans, was repatriated to Korea on the morning of the 25th.
Park is suspected of distributing drugs in Korea using the Telegram messenger from inside prison, and investigators said they plan to thoroughly uncover the full extent of the crimes by analyzing Park's mobile phone secured in this operation.
◇Park Wang-yeol does not answer question on whether he lived in luxury in prison
The government's Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force (TF) said that morning it had received Park on a provisional surrender from the Sablayan Prison on Mindoro Island in the Philippines.
Park boarded Asiana flight OZ708 to Korea at CLARK Material Handling Asia International Airport in the Philippines, which departed at 2:35 a.m. (Korea time) that day and arrived at Incheon International Airport at about 6:38 a.m. Two escort officers sat on either side of Park after placing him in handcuffs on the plane.
At Incheon Airport, Park wore a navy baseball cap and had a thick beard from not shaving. The handcuffs on his hands were covered with cloth. Dozens of police officers and Ministry of Justice escort officials surrounded him. Park left Incheon Airport in an escort vehicle for the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency.
As he was transferred from the arrivals hall to an investigative agency, Park was asked by reporters, "Do you admit to the charge of selling drugs in Korea?" "Is it true you lived a luxurious life in prison?" "Did you launder drug revenue through coins (virtual assets)?" "Do you have anything to say to the families of the victims in the sugarcane field murders?" but he did not answer.
◇President Lee says, "I heard he calls his girlfriend to the prison to hang out," mentioning it directly
Park shot and killed three Koreans who had fled to the Philippines after committing a roughly 15 billion won illegal private placement scheme in Korea, amid a dispute over a casino gambling hall (junket room) business, in a sugarcane field in Bacolod. He then siphoned off 720 million won in investment funds for the gambling hall that he had received from them.
Park was arrested by local police but escaped twice, and in Apr. 2022 his 60-year prison sentence was finalized. In the meantime, he ran a business supplying Southeast Asian drugs to Korea, and after being imprisoned, he continued supplying drugs domestically using a mobile phone and the Telegram messenger. On Telegram, he used names such as "Drug King Worldwide."
There were also claims that Park lived lavishly in prison. Early this month, President Lee Jae-myung, meeting Korean residents in the Philippines, directly mentioned it, saying, "I heard he calls his girlfriend to the prison to hang out."
◇Police say, "We have identified multiple accomplices so far and are currently investigating"
Prosecutors and police plan to thoroughly investigate the allegation that Park smuggled, distributed and sold drugs in Korea from the Philippines through domestic and overseas accomplices, to identify the true structure of the drug distribution organization. They also plan to rigorously track and recover criminal revenue.
Lee Ji-yeon, Director of the Ministry of Justice's International Criminal Affairs Division, said at a briefing at Incheon International Airport that morning, "(Park) will be handed over to an investigative agency immediately, and a thorough investigation will proceed," adding, "A detailed analysis will also be conducted on Park's belongings, including the mobile phone obtained through this repatriation operation."
Considering Park's age, the 60-year sentence he received in a local court is effectively a life sentence. The Ministry of Justice said of repatriating Park via provisional surrender, "There is a possibility of contacting the outside using a mobile phone while imprisoned," and "We determined there is concern that drug crimes targeting our nationals could continue."
The Director explained regarding how Park was able to continue his crimes while incarcerated, "We understand that in some facilities, inmates may use mobile phones, creating the possibility of illegal contact with the outside," describing the supervisory system as vulnerable.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency will lead the investigation into Park's drug-related allegations. Three police stations had been investigating Park's drug-related cases, but the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency will merge and take over the investigation. Police said, "We have identified multiple accomplices so far and are currently investigating."
Park's provisional surrender was carried out under the Korea-Philippines extradition treaty. Under conditions agreed upon by Korea and the Philippines, once the drug-related investigation and trial are concluded, Park will be transferred to the Philippines to serve the remainder of his sentence there. The Director said, "In consultation with the Philippine authorities, we plan to further discuss measures such as extending the provisional surrender period if necessary."