Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
2 arrested for blackmailing undocumented foreign nationals after intentionally crashing into their cars
This photo, released on Wednesday by police, shows a sedan following the victim's vehicle in an unidentified location. Two people have been arrested on charges of blackmailing people, mostly drunk drivers and undocumented foreign nationals, after intentionally crashing into their vehicles. Courtesy of Chungnam Provincial Police Agency
By Jung Min-ho
Two people have been arrested on charges of blackmailing people, mostly drunk drivers and undocumented foreign nationals, after intentionally crashing into their vehicles.
According to the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, Wednesday, the suspects, in their 30s, and their two accomplices face indictment on charges of extorting 57 million won ($41,000) from 27 people after staging crashes for about a year from March 2023.
The other two are expected to stand trial without detention.
Police said the suspects specifically targeted foreign nationals and drunk people, who they thought would be less likely to report the traffic incidents to the police.
Suwon, Pyeongtaek, Cheongju and Cheonan were among the cities where they plotted and committed their alleged crimes.
Police said the suspects mainly targeted foreign nationals near factories and offices known to have hired workers without valid visas during daytime. After dark, they started searching for anyone visibly intoxicated.
Police found that they extorted 1 million won to 5 million won from each of their victims.