[Drug Nation]⑤"Making Kimchi in Prison"...Cambodia Kingpin 'Song'

■ Chapter 1. Drugs Have Swept Through Our Society


Police Extradite "Drug Dealer" Park Wangyeol and Choi Byungmin in Succession

Song, Distributing Drugs from a Cambodian Prison

The Golden Triangle, which is believed to be the starting point of the "Oolong Tea" drug, is a vast mountainous region. It spans the border areas of three countries: Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Historically, it has been notorious as the world's largest drug production area. The Mekong River flows beneath its rugged terrain. The complex geography has made it difficult for law enforcement to monitor the area. The Mekong River, which runs through this region, serves as a "smuggling route" that distributes drugs to various parts of the world.

The Golden Triangle is a massive drug production area. It has recently drawn renewed attention following the repatriation of Park Wangyeol (47), known as "Telegram Worldwide." Drug organizations use this region as a base to conduct operations in neighboring countries such as the Philippines and Cambodia. They continue to smuggle drugs into South Korea by colluding with local law enforcement, which poses a serious problem.

The Korean police have been on standby this January to repatriate criminal organization members who committed crimes such as scams at Phnom Penh International Airport in Cambodia. National Police Agency

The Drug Organized Crime Investigation Division of the National Police Agency apprehended Choi Byungmin (51), known as the "Telegram Cheongdam Boss," in Thailand on the 1st and extradited him to South Korea. Choi had supplied drugs to Park, who was directing drug distribution freely while incarcerated in a Philippine prison. Choi, accused of supplying drugs to Park, had been residing in Thailand.

Investigative authorities are closely monitoring a man surnamed Song in his 60s in Cambodia, who faces charges similar to Park's. According to a source well-versed in drug distribution, "Park Wangyeol is not even recognized in this field, so it was absurd that he was called a 'drug kingpin,'" adding, "Song is on an entirely different scale in terms of distribution volume and network—there's simply no comparison."

Song is also known as "Mr. Song." He departed for Cambodia in March 2019 and was arrested in July 2020 on charges of possessing methamphetamine. However, he continues to smuggle drugs while freely using a mobile phone inside the local prison. A diplomatic source said, "It is understood that Song is living so freely in prison that there are even rumors he makes kimchi for himself; I have also heard that he insists on eating only Korean food."

Song has even involved his family in criminal activity. In December of last year, his mother, who is in her 90s, was sentenced to one year in prison. She was charged with receiving 400 million won in cash from an unidentified individual and transferring it to a designated account—under her son's instructions.

The police arrested Choi Byungmin (51), a cargo ship owner who supplied drugs to drug kingpin Park Wangyeol, known as "Telegram Cheongdam," in Thailand and extradited him to South Korea on the 1st. Image generated by ChatGPT

However, cooperation from the Cambodian authorities has been found to be far from smooth. A former investigative official pointed out, "We have tried to extradite him several times, but the attitude has been extremely uncooperative," adding, "Even the investigation into the scam compounds was only possible because President Lee Jaemyung personally became involved." It is reported that the Cambodian side responded to extradition requests by suggesting a quid pro quo: "Catch anti-Cambodian government activists in Korea and exchange them."

Currently, under President Lee's directive, the investigative authorities have launched a special task force for transnational crime response. In particular, as the police are strengthening cooperation with local investigative agencies, expectations are rising for the extradition of Song.

The expansion of the "Korea Task Force," which had previously led the crackdown on scam organizations, to cover drugs and gambling as well, is part of the same broader context. On April 29, Acting Commissioner General Yoo Jaeseong of the National Police Agency held a summit on public security with Sar Thet, Commissioner General of the Cambodian National Police, at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where they discussed strengthening responses to transnational crime.

Attracting cooperation through official development assistance (ODA) is cited as the most realistic approach. The National Police Agency has decided to transfer South Korea's advanced public security system and cutting-edge investigative techniques through public security ODA projects. This is expected to not only enhance local law enforcement capabilities but also increase the involvement of the Korean police.

Special Reporting Team | Jang Heejun, Oh Jieun, Park Hosu, Lee Jiye, Park Jaehyun

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.