So-called "revenge-for-hire" services, in which agents carry out personal vendettas for a fee, are rapidly spreading across both online and offline channels in South Korea. Beyond the old-fashioned method of posting stickers and flyers on utility poles, a growing number of operators are now opening consultation channels on Telegram to take on various commissions, turning private retaliation into a full-fledged "service." Concerns are also mounting that the proliferation of private detective licenses is fueling the trend, as many organizations use such credentials to run investigation agencies that offer these services.
According to a Seoul Economic Daily investigation published Monday, dozens of promotional posts advertising revenge-for-hire services have been uploaded on X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and KakaoTalk open chat rooms. The posts, using terms such as "errands" and "problem-solving," claim to offer customized criminal acts tailored to client requests.
Operators contacted directly by the reporter presented a detailed breakdown of revenge options, including contracted assault, location tracking, wiretapping, and the production and distribution of AI-generated deepfake videos. They also emphasized confidentiality, promising "clean resolution with no consequences" and "identity protection" to help clients evade investigation after the retaliation is carried out.
A prominent recent case involves a revenge-for-hire ring that planted an operative as an undercover employee at a Baemin (Baedal Minjok, South Korea's largest food delivery platform) customer service contractor. The operative stole personal data and then carried out acts of harassment near the victims' residences, including spreading human excrement and spraying lacquer paint.
Traditional offline solicitation is also still rampant. Flyers for "errand centers" with personal phone numbers were easily spotted on utility poles in the Hwagok-dong area of Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Advertising phrases such as "debt collection, background checks, and surveillance" were prominently displayed. Although such advertisements constitute illegal outdoor signage, enforcement remains ineffective because it is difficult to identify those who post them, and flyers are often reattached after removal.
