President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a state visit to the Philippines, has announced plans to pursue the temporary extradition of Park Wang-yeol, known as the "Telegram Drug King," bringing renewed attention to Park's crimes and prison life.
"There is a person named 'Park ○-yeol' who murdered three Koreans and continues to export drugs to Korea via Telegram while incarcerated in a Philippine prison," President Lee said at a meeting with Korean residents at a Manila hotel on Sunday (local time). "I hear he even invites his girlfriend to the prison."
Lee said he requested Park's temporary extradition during his summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the previous day.
"We intend to investigate and punish this person in Korea," Lee added. "President Marcos said he would actively review and implement this at an early date."
The individual Lee mentioned appears to be Park Wang-yeol, considered one of the "three major drug lords of Southeast Asia." He is known online as the "Telegram Drug King."
Park is a suspect in the 2016 "sugarcane field murder case," in which three Koreans were killed in the Philippines. He was arrested by Philippine authorities in October 2022 and is serving a 60-year sentence. He had previously escaped prison twice and lived as a fugitive before being recaptured in October 2020.
Authorities discovered Park continued supplying drugs to Korea using mobile phones while imprisoned. Approximately 60 kilograms of drugs worth 30 billion won ($21 million) reportedly entered Korea monthly. The Telegram account "Vatican Kingdom," identified as a major domestic drug coordinator, allegedly received supplies from Park.
Recent allegations suggest Park has been living a "VVIP-level" lifestyle at New Bilibid Prison in the Philippines.
Kim Dae-gyu, former head of the drug crime investigation unit at Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency who investigated Park's case, appeared on SBS's "The Story That Leads to That Day" in January. He described the prison as "more like a 'criminal village' where criminals are gathered together rather than a prison" where inmates can "freely do various activities—watching TV, exercising, meeting girlfriends."
"The problem was that inmates could freely use mobile phones," Kim said. "In Park Wang-yeol's case, he can conduct drug transactions smoothly because he uses a mobile phone while incarcerated."
When Philippine authorities raided New Bilibid Prison, they reportedly discovered luxury villas, spa tubs, tennis courts, and other upscale facilities.
Under the current extradition treaty between Korea and the Philippines, Park can only be repatriated after Philippine judicial proceedings conclude—meaning extradition would only be possible after his 60-year sentence is served.
However, if both countries agree, "temporary extradition" would allow Korea to bring Park for trial regardless of his remaining sentence.
Korea's Ministry of Justice requested Park's extradition in 2018, but the Philippine government suspended the repatriation.
Kim Sung-gon and accomplice Choi Se-yong, masterminds behind the serial kidnapping and murder of Koreans in the Philippines that inspired the film "The Roundup 2," were repatriated through temporary extradition in May 2015 and October 2013 respectively. Both received life sentences from Korean courts.
Another individual surnamed Kim, also called one of the "three major Southeast Asian drug lords" alongside Park, was arrested in Vietnam and repatriated to Korea in July 2022. His original sentence of 25 years in prison and 690 million won in forfeitures was upheld on appeal. A drug coordinator surnamed Choi, a North Korean defector, was also captured in Cambodia and repatriated to Korea.