BI to deport, blacklist Korean sex trafficker

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport and blacklist a Korean wanted in Seoul for running a prostitution ring in the Philippines that caters to Korean tourists.

According to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, Hong Yong, 44, was arrested by immigration authorities at Clark International Airport as he prepared to board an Asiana Airlines flight to Seoul last week.

The arrest came after an immigration officer saw his name on the BI watch list of foreign fugitives.

Dana Krizial Sandoval, BI spokesperson, said in a statement that Hong was put on the watch list on Jan. 18.

The Korean Embassy reported that Hong was wanted in Korea for “arranging the sexual traffic” of Korean tourists.

Hong, the BI said, sent pictures of Filipino prostitutes to Korean clients and collected the equivalent of P9,000 in initial payment per transaction.

Hong used a travel agency he set up in Pampanga for the illegal operation, Sandoval said in the BI statement. —Tina G. Santos