The identity of Choi Byung-min (50), who is accused of supplying narcotics to Park Wang-yeol (47), known as a so-called drug kingpin, was made public on the 12th.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said it will post personal information, including Choi Byung-min's name, age, and facial photo (mug shot), on its website for one month from 9 a.m. on the 12th to 9 a.m. on the 11th of next month.
Police decided to disclose Choi Byung-min's identity at a personal information disclosure review committee meeting on the 6th, but the disclosure was postponed for five days due to Choi's refusal to consent.
Choi Byung-min is accused of distributing and selling narcotics while using the Telegram nicknames "Cheongdam" or "Cheongdam boss."
Police believe that from September 2019 to September 2021, Choi distributed narcotics via Telegram, including about 46 kilograms of methamphetamine, about 48 kilograms of ketamine, and about 76,000 tablets of ecstasy (MDMA), enough for 2.1 million people to take at the same time. The value is about 38 billion won.
While questioning Park Wang-yeol, who was repatriated from the Philippines to Korea on Mar. 25, police identified allegations against Choi Byung-min. In cooperation with Thai investigative authorities, they arrested Choi locally on the 10th of last month and forcibly repatriated him to Korea on the 1st of this month. Police sent Choi to prosecutors the day before.