SBS 'Kkokkomu' Unveils Shocking Global Crime Networks Targeting South Korea

SBS's 'Kkokkomu' concluded its three-part special 'Target K' with the episode 'Business of Evil,' shedding light on the past and present of transnational crimes and diagnosing South Korea's crisis as a target of global crime.

The 209th episode, aired on the 29th, delved into international drug crimes and romance scams targeting South Korea. The episode featured actors Lee Se-young, WINNER's Kang Seung-yoon, and singer-actor Ong Seong-wu as listeners.

The story began in May 2002 at an airport in the Netherlands, where a young Korean woman was arrested after drugs were found in her luggage. A month later, four Korean women were arrested at a Japanese airport on similar charges, all claiming ignorance of the drugs in their bags.

The roots of the case trace back to 1999, when an NIS agent known as 'James' was gathering intelligence in Itaewon, Seoul. He appeared on 'Kkokkomu' to recount the events, which involved the NIS-led 'Nigerian Drug Connection Expose Project.'

At the center of the investigation was a Nigerian drug lord named 'Frank,' who posed as a trade company CEO in Itaewon. Fluent in Korean, he gained the trust of Korean women. By 2002, ten Korean women were arrested in the Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, and the UK, carrying approximately 33kg of cocaine and 40kg of marijuana. Ong Seong-wu expressed shock, stating, "This could shake an entire nation."

Frank chose Koreans as couriers due to the high trust in Korean passports. The arrested couriers, all in their 20s, received a combined sentence of 46 years and 3 months. Lee Se-young expressed sympathy, saying, "It must have been devastating." The NIS and prosecutors eventually captured Frank in Germany, and he is now serving a life sentence in Cheonan Prison.

The episode also highlighted ongoing crimes in 2026, such as deepfake technology, romance scams, and online fraud targeting Korea. Lee Se-young experienced real-time deepfake technology in the studio, expressing horror at the advancements in criminal technology.

The 'Kkokkomu' team conducted their first on-site investigation in Africa, uncovering shocking crimes in Nigeria, the top country for romance scams. Illegal organizations systematically train young scammers, known as 'Yahoo Boys,' who openly use their criminal profits for leisure. Kang Seung-yoon expressed anger, stating, "It's upsetting that victims' losses are used for their entertainment."

The team also investigated 'K-Jeff,' an international drug syndicate based in Nigeria. Since 2020, the NIS has tracked this group, which disguised marijuana as spices and attempted to smuggle over 15kg of methamphetamine into Korea.

The investigation revealed a transnational crime network involving Nigerian, Cambodian, and Chinese organizations. An NIS agent explained to 'Kkokkomu' that Korea is targeted because drug prices are over ten times higher than in other countries, making it an attractive market for criminals.

Hosts Jang Hyun-sung, Jang Sung-kyu, and Jang Do-yeon warned viewers, "International crimes targeting Koreans are closer than we think," emphasizing that anyone can be a target in everyday social media spaces.

'Kkokkomu' is a program where three storytellers share their insights with their 'story friends' in the most ordinary settings, airing every Thursday at 10:20 PM on SBS.

Reporter: Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia bella@tenasia.co.kr