Thai Tourist Police and local officers rescued a South Korean man allegedly trafficked into a romance scam operation in Bangkok before arresting five South Korean nationals accused of running the scheme from a home in the Prawet district.
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The operation took place on 13 May 2026 after Thailand’s Tourist Police hotline 1155 received a request for assistance from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Thailand at around 8.45pm on 13 May. The South Korean man claimed he had been deceived into travelling to Thailand to work for a romance scam gang and feared he would be harmed or detained if he refused to follow orders.
Acting on the information, officers from Tourist Police Division 1, together with Prawet Police Station and South Korean embassy officials, raided a property at 19/1 inside The City housing estate in Soi Phatthanakan 97, Prawet district, Bangkok.
Police found five South Korean men working at computers inside the house. Investigators said the group was suspected of operating a romance scam network targeting fellow South Koreans while using Thailand as a base.
Picture courtesy of Thaitabloid
During the search, officers seized 66 items including computers, mobile phones, monitors and other electronic devices. Authorities said all the equipment appeared to be in active use and would be examined as evidence in the investigation.
The five arrested suspects were identified as Mr Seonghyun Ahn, Mr Seunghyun Lee, Mr Chaneoo Park, Mr Minseok Kim and Mr Youngjin Kim. All five were charged with working in Thailand without valid work permits under the Emergency Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers Employment B.E. 2560 and related amendments.
Police also filed an additional charge against Mr Seonghyun Ahn under the Customs Act B.E. 2560 for allegedly concealing or possessing goods that had not passed proper customs procedures. Authorities said the rescued South Korean man had been placed under protection while officials coordinated with consular staff from the South Korean embassy to provide further assistance.
Tourist Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Saksira Phueak-am said the entire operation took less than three hours, beginning with the emergency request through the 1155 hotline at 8.45pm and ending with the successful rescue at 11.30pm.
Thaitabloid reported that investigators believe the suspects may be linked to a wider transnational criminal network. Police are now analysing the seized electronic devices and other evidence to identify additional suspects and possible connections to international scam operations.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaitabloid 15 May 2026