What happened to the suspects accused of extorting foreign motorcycle riders in Yangsan and Gimhae?

Police referred nine people to the prosecution on suspicion of intimidating and extorting foreign nationals in the two cities. The Yangsan case involved two suspects in their 20s, while the Gimhae case involved seven teenagers.

Why did police say foreign motorcyclists were targeted in these cases?

Police said the suspects targeted foreigners because they expected the victims would avoid reporting the crimes if their undocumented status or unregistered motorcycles could be exposed. In Gimhae, police said language barriers also helped the teenagers intimidate victims.

9 sent to prosecution for alleged extortion targeting foreigners in Yangsan, Gimhae

Q: How much money was allegedly taken from foreign riders in Yangsan, and how often did the extortion happen?

The Yangsan suspects allegedly took about 2 million won from foreign riders on 24 occasions between June and July. Police said they threatened to report the victims to police.

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Summary

Police referred nine people to the prosecution over alleged extortion targeting foreign nationals riding unregistered motorcycles in Yangsan and Gimhae. Two suspects in their 20s allegedly extorted about 2 million won from foreign riders 24 times between June and July in Yangsan by threatening to report them to police. Seven teenagers in Gimhae were also transferred to prosecutors over intimidation of foreign motorcyclists without license plates in September 2025 and June 2026. Police said they will strictly crack down on crimes exploiting vulnerable foreign nationals.

Key Facts

Two suspects in their 20s allegedly extorted about 2 million won from foreign riders on 24 occasions in Yangsan between June and July.
The Yangsan case involved threats to report the victims to police, and the suspects allegedly used the victims’ undocumented status or unregistered motorcycles to pressure them.
Seven teenagers in Gimhae were transferred to the prosecution over intimidation of foreign motorcyclists without license plates in September 2025 and June 2026.
Police said no money was taken in the Gimhae cases because the victims fled in fear or had trouble understanding the teenagers because of language barriers.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 17, 2026 11:14 am KST

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.

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