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Lee asks for Philippines' support in repatriating Korean drug trafficker

Published: 04 Mar. 2026, 18:04

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with Korean residents in the Philippines at a hotel in Manila on March 4. [YONHAP]

President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that he has asked for the Philippines' cooperation in temporarily bringing a Korean national detained in the Southeast Asian nation back to face justice at home over drug trafficking allegations.

Lee disclosed that the request was made during his summit talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the previous day, as part of efforts to combat transnational crime and address security concerns among Korean residents in the Philippines.

“Although cases involving Korean nationals at home have significantly declined, incidents affecting Korean residents in the Philippines appear to be rising,” Lee said during a meeting with Korean residents in Manila, noting that the government is paying attention to the issue.

Lee specifically mentioned a Korean criminal surnamed Park, currently detained in a Philippine prison for killing three Koreans and who is also suspected of trafficking drugs to Korea through the social media platform Telegram.

The president was apparently referring to Park Wang-yeol, known as the “Telegram drug kingpin,” who has been serving a 60-year prison sentence in the Philippines since 2022.

Lee said he requested Park's temporary repatriation to allow Korean authorities to investigate his case. Marcos said he would actively review the matter and implement it in the near future.

In addition, he asked Marcos to step up efforts to apprehend suspects in the case of Korean businessperson Jee Ick-joo, who was killed by Philippine police in 2016.

Ji was kidnapped for ransom by Philippine police officers and later killed. While two accomplices were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023, a senior official who allegedly orchestrated the murder was acquitted and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Lee said Marcos responded that he would do his best, noting that Seoul is also considering mobilizing its capabilities to assist with the arrest.

Yonhap