An investigative team from the Immigration Bureau's Crime Suppression Division executed a court-approved search at a condominium in central Pattaya, arresting nine members of a South Korean call center gang that had been operating a transnational fraud base for over two months.
At 11:00 a.m. on 6 May 2026, at the Immigration Office in Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province, Pol Maj Gen Pantha Nuchnat, Deputy Commander of the Immigration Bureau, Pol Maj Gen Phanop Woratanatchakul, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, Pol Col Ratchot Chotikhun, Deputy Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, and Mr. Kim Dohan, Police Consul from the South Korean Embassy in Thailand, jointly held a press conference on the operation to dismantle the South Korean call center gang illegally based in Pattaya.
Pol Maj Gen Pantha explained that the arrest followed intelligence received by the Crime Suppression Division that a group of South Korean nationals were involved in fraudulent activities targeting the public. They had been using condominium rooms in Pattaya's Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, as an illegal operational base. After gathering evidence, they obtained court approval from Pattaya Provincial Court to search five rooms.
The search resulted in the arrest of nine South Korean suspects: Mr. SUBIN LEE, 28; Mr. KANG DONGHEE, 31; Mr. KIM SEONGHWAN, 20; Mr. SONG DAEKYU, 25; Mr. LEE CHANGGYU, 34; Mr. HAM TAEYOON, 21; Mr. SIM WANGGEUN, 36; Mr. HYEONWOOK CHOI, 28; and Mr. CHANGJO KIM, 27. Authorities seized 480,000 baht in cash, 62 mobile phones, 8 laptops, and 6 iPads.
Investigations revealed that the gang had been operating in Pattaya for over two months under the leadership of Mr. SUBIN LEE. They impersonated officials from South Korea's lottery company, deceiving Korean lottery buyers by offering compensation to those who lost. They then tricked victims into opening new bank accounts and sending OTP codes, which were used to access these accounts to take out loans and transfer money to accounts controlled by the criminals. Victims suffered financial losses due to debts incurred.
Additionally, the gang used internet-based phone systems (VOIP) to call many victims. Police found Excel files listing hundreds of victims. Among the suspects, three had outstanding warrants from South Korea for fraud related to call center scams and extortion.
Given that their activities disrupted social order, authorities revoked the residency permits of all nine foreigners. They were detained for deportation procedures and coordination with South Korean authorities to proceed with legal actions.