South Korean Gambling Kingpin Arrested in Pattaya Massage Shop

On July 4, 2025, Regional Task Force 3 Commander Pol. Lt. Gen. Songprod Sirisukha led a team including Deputy Commanders Pol. Col. Detcho Sosuwannakul, Pol. Col. Prinyah Klinkaset, and Pol. Col. Chinawut Tangwonsaless, along with station officers, to conduct a stakeout at a Thai massage shop in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.

International law enforcement agencies had provided intelligence on the suspect, a 45-year-old South Korean national named Kim, who was hiding in the Pattaya area under an international warrant. He is accused of operating an illegal call center gang and managing multiple online gambling websites including Shinseae, LIGHT, Gangnam, Bangatkan, and BLUE that offered services such as baccarat and slots, victimizing numerous users in South Korea.

Investigators determined that Kim frequented the massage shop, so officers conducted a stakeout. When a man matching Kim's description entered the establishment, officers presented the arrest warrant and notified him of temporary revocation of his residence permission. They then escorted him to a nearby residence where they discovered multiple computers.

Initial inspection revealed the backend management system of the gambling website, displaying user account information and agent IDs such as mid777, mia777, and akka1111. Investigators found records of total bets placed, the margin between bets and winnings, and rolling transaction volumes. Evidence suggests Kim generated approximately 124 million baht in annual revenue from managing the gambling websites.

Authorities seized all computers for further investigation and analysis. Kim was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division for legal proceedings and extradition handling.