Court also orders forfeiture of 13.37 million won in criminal proceeds

Park Wang-yeol, known as the "drug lord," is extradited to South Korea through Incheon International Airport in March. [Yonhap]
Park Wang-yeol, known as the "drug lord," is extradited to South Korea through Incheon International Airport in March. [Yonhap]

A man in his 40s who conspired with the so-called "drug lord" Park Wang-yeol to distribute methamphetamine in South Korea has been sentenced to prison in a first-instance ruling.

Judge Seo Jin-won of the Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 10 sentenced the defendant, identified only as A, to two years in prison on Wednesday on charges of violating the Act on the Control of Narcotics, and ordered the forfeiture of approximately 13.37 million won in criminal proceeds.

A was indicted on charges of escaping from a detention facility in the Philippines in January with Park's nephew, identified as B, and then attempting to obtain methamphetamine from Park to distribute in South Korea.

Prosecutors found that A transferred cryptocurrency received from B to Park's digital wallet to arrange 300 grams of methamphetamine for smuggling into South Korea, and also recruited a carrier to bring the drugs into the country. The plan was foiled when A was arrested in the Philippines in January.

A also faces charges of introducing B to another drug organization and facilitating their smuggling of 97 grams of methamphetamine, worth 9.7 million won ($7,240), into South Korea.

"The amount of methamphetamine the defendant handled was considerable, and some of it was distributed domestically," the court said. "The defendant also made substantial preparations to smuggle 300 grams of methamphetamine, making the nature of the crime serious."

Meanwhile, Park was indicted on charges including smuggling 4.8 kilograms of methamphetamine worth 450 million won into South Korea from the Philippines, Mexico and South Africa between January 2020 and July 2024. Police tracked down Park's domestic and international drug supply chain, extradited him from a prison in the Philippines and transferred him to custody.


park.jiyeong@heraldcorp.com