Seoul: Authorities announced plans to seek an arrest warrant for Park Wang-yeol, a well-known drug trafficker who was recently repatriated from the Philippines. Park, a 48-year-old South Korean national, was previously serving a 60-year prison sentence in the Philippines for the murders of three South Koreans in 2016. Upon his arrival back in South Korea on Wednesday, he was immediately taken into custody by the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police to face investigation on charges of drug smuggling and distribution.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the temporary repatriation was facilitated under an extradition treaty between South Korea and the Philippines. This development occurred approximately three weeks after President Lee Jae Myung sought assistance from the Filipino government during an official visit to the Philippines. Upon his return, Park was subjected to a 10-hour interrogation session on Wednesday, where police focused on his involvement in drug smuggling and distribution activities as corroborated by his accomplices. Park reportedly acknowledged most of these allegations during questioning.

Authorities suspect Park of orchestrating the smuggling of 4.6 kilograms of methamphetamine into South Korea in 2024, allegedly instructing his accomplices from within his Philippine detention. Furthermore, he is accused of selling illegal drugs valued at approximately 3 billion won (US$1.99 million) across various South Korean cities, including Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, between 2019 and 2020. In connection with these activities, more than 40 of Park's associates have been detained, alongside 194 individuals who reportedly purchased the drugs.

The Uijeongbu District Court has scheduled a hearing for Friday to decide on the issuance of the arrest warrant.