South Korean police will disclose the identity of a drug supplier who provided 10 billion won ($7.4 million) worth of narcotics to Park Wang-yeol, the so-called "Drug King" who operated as a drug distribution kingpin in the Philippines.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency held a deliberation committee on identity disclosure Monday afternoon and decided to release the name, age and mugshot of Choi, 51, who was forcibly repatriated from Thailand on drug supply charges.
However, Choi did not submit a confirmation form consenting to the disclosure of his personal information. As a result, police decided to allow a grace period of at least five days and plan to post Choi's personal information on the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency website from Jan. 12 through Feb. 11. Under Article 4, Paragraph 7 of the Act on the Disclosure of Information on Serious Criminal Suspects, a grace period of at least five days must be granted if the suspect does not consent in writing to the disclosure.
Choi is suspected of distributing approximately 10 billion won worth of narcotics domestically, including 22 kilograms of methamphetamine, from 2019 through recently. He operated on Telegram using nicknames such as "Cheongdam" and "Cheongdam Boss." Choi is believed to have led a lavish lifestyle, owning real estate in Cheongdam-dong in Seoul's Gangnam district and luxury vehicles worth hundreds of millions of won, after reaping enormous profits from supplying drugs to Park.
During the investigation into Park, police identified Choi as a key supplier and, in cooperation with Thai police, arrested him in Thailand on Dec. 10. A court subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Choi on Jan. 3.
During police questioning, Choi partially admitted to drug use but denied any connection to Park, calling him "someone I don't know." Police are conducting digital forensic analysis on 13 mobile phones Choi had been using in Thailand.
