9 sent to prosecution for alleged extortion targeting foreigners in Yangsan, Gimhae
Suspects in their 20s extort money from foreigners riding motorcycles without license plates in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, this undated file photo. Courtesy of Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency
Police have referred nine individuals to the prosecution on suspicion of intimidating and extorting money from foreign nationals operating unregistered motorcycles in the southeastern cities of Yangsan and Gimhae, local authorities said Thursday.
According to the Yangsan Police Station, two suspects in their 20s allegedly extorted about 2 million won ($1,450) from foreign riders on 24 occasions between June and July in the city located some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul by threatening to report them to police. They actually did so when victims claimed they had no money.
The suspects apparently targeted foreigners knowing they would not be reported to the police as the victims feared their own undocumented status or operation of unregistered motorcycles would be exposed.
Similarly, seven teenagers in Gimhae, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, were transferred to the prosecution on suspicion of intimidating foreign motorcyclists without license plates, such as by kicking their vehicles, in September 2025 and June 2026, according to the Gimhae Seobu Police Station.
Police noted, however, that no money was taken as the victims fled in fear or struggled to understand the teenagers due to language barriers.
"We will strictly crack down on crimes that exploit the vulnerable status of foreign nationals," a police official said.