'The Chaser' Based on Real Person Who Caught Yoo Young-cheol, Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges (Comprehensive)

A figure who helped capture serial killer Yoo Young-chul in 2004 and served as the inspiration for the movie 'The Chaser' has been arrested by the police on drug trafficking charges.

On the afternoon of the 9th, Shin Hyun-il, the presiding judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Eastern District Court, conducted a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) for Mr. Noh (51), who is accused of violating the Narcotics Control Act, and issued an arrest warrant citing concerns that he might flee.

The Seoul Songpa Police Department, investigating the case, received a tip that Mr. Noh was selling methamphetamine and arrested him at a lodging facility on the 7th, subsequently applying for an arrest warrant the day before.

Mr. Noh is the real-life model for 'Eom Jung-ho,' portrayed by Kim Yoon-seok in the 2008 film 'The Chaser.' As the owner of a business trip massage parlor in Gangnam, Mr. Noh reported to the police when one of his female employees went missing in 2004 and personally began tracking the case.

However, after becoming addicted to drugs, Mr. Noh was repeatedly incarcerated and was sentenced to three years in prison in 2015 for drug trafficking and use. During that trial, Mr. Noh's side pleaded that he could not quit drugs due to trauma from the Yoo Young-chul case, but the court sentenced him to a heavy penalty, stating, "Despite committing another crime just five months after release and blaming only government agencies, there is no sign of remorse."

With Mr. Noh in custody, the police plan to investigate the specific details of the crime and whether he has used drugs.