BI nabs South Korean wanted for operating illegal streaming service 

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended in Pampanga a South Korean fugitive who was wanted in his country for allegedly operating an illegal Korean language streaming service in the Philippines.

Suspect Kim Jongsik, 55, was arrested on August 6 by the BI fugitive search unit at his residence in Barangay Sto. Niño in Angeles City. He is now detained at the BI facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, while waiting for deportation proceedings.

The suspect was also placed on the immigration blacklist.

According to the BI, Kim is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Busan district court in October 2022, when he was charged with violating Korea’s copyright law for reportedly operating a streaming service that offers movies and entertainment shows obtained without the permission of its copyright owners.

Subscribers to the illegal streaming platform were allegedly charged a fee of P4,000 every three months.

Interpol issued a red notice in November 2022 after Kim's criminal indictment.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau said the suspect was already ordered expelled by the BI in 2023 for being an undesirable alien.

A check of his travel record showed Kim arrived in the country in April 2019 and has not departed since then. — VBL, GMA Integrated News