What crimes will the Korean National Police Agency target in its nationwide crackdown on young gangsters?

The KNPA will focus on organized fraud, illegal private lending, online gambling operations and money laundering. It also plans to target criminals who display illicit wealth online to spread fear and suspects linked to drug trafficking and organized crimes involving foreign nationals.

When will the police crackdown on organized crime start and how long will it last?

The special operations begin Monday and run through Oct. 31. The KNPA said the campaign will be nationwide and will intensify intelligence gathering in foreigner communities, workplaces and nightlife districts.

How much did gang arrests and foreign-national bookings rise in the first half of the year?

Police said they apprehended 1,185 gang members and arrested 225 between March 9 and June 30, up 9.7 percent and 48.3 percent from the previous roundup. The number of foreign nationals booked in the first half of the year rose 9.1 percent to 18,130, while drug-related crimes increased 29 percent.

Police to launch national crackdown on young gangsters

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Summary

Police will launch a nationwide crackdown on organized crime and international transgressions Monday, focusing on young gangsters involved in fraud and money laundering. The Korean National Police Agency said the special operations will run through Oct. 31. The campaign also targets drug trafficking, online gambling and organized crimes involving foreign nationals.

Key Facts

The KNPA will target high-yield financial crimes, including organized fraud, illegal private lending, online gambling operations and money laundering.
Police said they will also move to freeze criminal proceeds to cut off funding sources and to crack down on suspects flaunting illicit wealth online.
Between March 9 and June 30, police apprehended 1,185 gang members and arrested 225, up 9.7 percent and 48.3 percent from the previous roundup.
Those in their 30s or younger accounted for 63.6 percent of the apprehended suspects, and fraud made up 42.7 percent of their offenses.
The number of foreign nationals booked by police in the first half of the year rose 9.1 percent from a year earlier to 18,130, while drug-related crimes jumped 29 percent.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 9, 2026 10:45 am KST

The Korean National Police Agency in Seodaemun District, Seoul / Yonhap

The national police said Sunday they will launch a nationwide crackdown on organized crime and international transgressions in the new week, with a focus on young gangsters turning to fraud and money laundering.

The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) said its special operations will begin Monday and run through Oct. 31. It will target high-yield financial crimes, such as organized fraud, illegal private lending, online gambling operations and money laundering.

The KNPA also plans to crack down on criminals flaunting their illicit wealth online to generate public fear, while also looking to freeze criminal proceeds to cut off funding sources.

On the international side, the KNPA said it will target drug trafficking, with a particular focus on synthetic drugs like ketamine, and organized crimes involving foreign nationals. The KNPA plans to intensify its intelligence gathering around foreigner communities and their workplaces, plus nightlife districts.

This crackdown comes on the heels of a marked increase in organized crime and international offenses in the first half of this year.

Between March 9 and June 30, police apprehended 1,185 gang members and arrested 225 — a jump of 9.7 percent and 48.3 percent from the previous roundup, respectively.

Those in their 30s or younger accounted for 63.6 percent of the apprehended suspects, and fraud had the largest share of their offenses at 42.7 percent.

Over a four-month period in the first half of this year, police apprehended 641 and detained 133. The overall number of foreign nationals booked by police in the year's first half rose 9.1 percent from a year ago to 18,130. There was a 29 percent surge in drug-related crimes.

"In close cooperation with relevant authorities, we will continue to crack down on organized and international crimes and strengthen our intelligence gathering," the KNPA said.

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