South Korean arrested for alleged ties to illegal gambling, says BI

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

A South Korean national was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for his alleged involvement in illegal gambling activities linked to unauthorized online game servers operated in the country.

BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) Chief Rendel Ryan Sy identified the fugitive as 41-year-old Lee Seunghyun, who was apprehended on October 13 in Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig City.

Fugitive

In a statement, Sy said the arrest stemmed from a request from the South Korean government for Lee’s deportation to face charges in his home country. Lee is also reportedly the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.

"According to information provided by the South Korean Embassy, the Busan District Court issued an arrest warrant against Lee on January 15, 2026, after he was charged with violating South Korea’s Game Industry Promotion Act," the agency said.

"South Korean authorities allege that, beginning in January 2019, Lee and his accomplices manipulated an interface adapter to operate three unauthorized private online game servers in Angeles City, Philippines," it added.

Lee and his group collected cash payments from users in exchange for "Adena," the game's virtual currency through alleged unauthorized monetary transactions through the servers.

Overstaying

The records of the Bureau show that Lee arrived in the Philippines on July 26, 2018, and has remained in the country since then, making him an overstaying alien. He is also part of the Bureau’s blacklist since August 2019 as a fugitive from justice.

Lee is currently detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig City pending the finality of the deportation proceedings against him.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said, “The Philippines will not be a safe haven for fugitives. Those wanted for criminal offenses abroad cannot use our country as a refuge from accountability. The BI will continue to track down foreign fugitives, enforce our immigration laws, and work with international partners to ensure that those sought by foreign authorities face the appropriate legal processes.” — BAP, GMA News