Interpol-wanted Korean hides on Thailand's busiest tourist island for months before getting caught

The suspect, known only as Lim, had been residing in Nonthaburi Province for a span of 260 days without obtaining the necessary permission to do so. On September 4, immigration authorities announced his arrest, informing that he would be deported once he addressed the issue of overstaying his visa in Thailand, according to the Bangkok Post.

South Korean law enforcement had issued an arrest warrant and Lim was also listed on Interpol's wanted persons list. Authorities claim he held a prominent position in an organization called Lucky Nine, which operated 12 centers across South Korea, including branches named Seolleung, Gold and Somang. Each member played a specific role, such as coordinator, IT operations chief, software developer or financial manager, as reported by Khaosod English.

The group amassed funds by posing as a casino business, with investors ranked from one star to seven stars. Commissions ranged from 3% to 21% based on the amount invested, a structure reminiscent of multi-level marketing. However, the money was diverted to online gambling overseas or used to reimburse earlier investors with funds from newer ones, according to police.

Over 100 people had lost over 10 billion won (approximately 250 million baht), police stated. In an effort to locate Lim, Korean investigators sought assistance from a Royal Thai Police liaison officer based in South Korea, as reported by the Thai Post. Biometric records revealed that Lim entered Thailand via Suvarnabhumi Airport on September 19, 2025, under the 90-day visa-free entry privilege granted to South Korean citizens, allowing him to remain until December 17.

He remained beyond that date and frequently changed addresses in Phuket to evade detection, the Bangkok Post reported. On September 3, Immigration Division 6 officers operating on the island discovered Lim at a suspected residence. Lim admitted to having an expired permit, having overstayed by 260 days, and confirmed he was the individual mentioned in the South Korean warrant and the Interpol notice, police said.

Officers searched the room and found three mobile phones, two credit cards, a tablet and other valuables. The items were seized on suspicion of being used in or related to the alleged offenses, and will be handed over to South Korean authorities to aid in identifying other network members who may have entered Thailand. Thai police conducted another arrest in Pattaya in May, targeting another South Korean man wanted under an Interpol red notice for a call-center operation that caused about 9 million baht in losses in August alone.

Phuket, Thailand's busiest island destination and second largest tourism hub after Bangkok, handled 19.7 million passengers at its international airport in 2024.