Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Alleged drug supplier to notorious kingpin Park Wang-yeol repatriated from Thailand

An alleged key drug supplier linked to infamous trafficker Park Wang-yeol was repatriated from Thailand on Friday to face investigation and possible criminal charges in Korea.

2026-05-01

Police detain 59 suspected scammers involved in criminal rings operating in Cambodia and Thailand

The police took custody of 53 alleged scammers who operated illegal bases in Cambodia and Thailand, it said Tuesday, who are suspected to be members of rings that swindled a combined 60 billion won last year.

2026-04-28

Korea seizes 650 kilograms of illegal drugs from Cambodia, Thailand in joint crackdown

Korea's customs authorities seized more than 650 kilograms (1,433 pounds) of illegal drugs coming from Cambodia and Thailand at the border in the first quarter, during joint crackdown operations with customs agencies of the two countries.

2026-04-23

Prime minister calls for tighter crackdowns on illegal drugs

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok called on Friday for tightening crackdowns on illegal drugs, saying criminal activities involving their smuggling and abuse are threatening people's safety and everyday lives.

2026-04-19

Record high scrips for Mounjaro for weight loss raise concern that urgent medical cases will get left out

Monthly prescriptions of obesity and diabetes management drug Mounjaro have surpassed 200,000 for the first time in March, raising concerns that demand for the drug by people seeking to lose weight could limit access for other patients.

2026-04-16

Doctor who illegally administered medical narcotics to more than 100 people receives final prison sentence

A doctor who illegally administered medical narcotics to more than 100 people — including former professional baseball player Oh Jae-won — and collected about 4.14 billion won ($2.81 million) has received a final prison sentence.

2026-04-15

Drug task force charges Korean member of Japanese crime syndicate for smuggling cannabis

A Korean member of a Japanese crime syndicate has been arrested and indicted for smuggling 636 kilograms of cannabis into the country, Korean authorities said Friday, marking the largest known haul for domestic distribution.

2026-04-10

Rising anti-anxiety prescriptions, drug-related crime put lawmakers on edge

Lawmakers are calling for tighter control over the prescription of anti-anxiety drugs as the number of prescriptions has been increasing over the years, possibly used in crimes such as the recent high-profile serial killing case.

2026-04-07

Smuggling via air travelers surges as customs seize 180 kilograms of illegal drugs at border in Q1

Korean customs authorities said Monday they seized 180 kilograms of illegal drugs at the border in the first quarter of the year.

2026-04-06

Catching the devil in Angeles City: How inspector Lee Ji-hoon nabbed alleged drug kingpin in the Philippines

In 2016, the bodies of three Koreans were found with bullet holes in their heads in a sugarcane field in the northern Philippines. Inspector Lee Ji-hoon, then dispatched as a Korean police officer to the country, chased clues to nab Park Wang-yeol.

2026-03-27