Smuggler who failed to pay a 653.7 billion won fine caught after seven years, says he has no money

A man who evaded South Korea’s largest recorded unpaid fine for seven years has been arrested in Seoul, but he is still refusing to pay, saying he has no remaining assets.

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office arrested the man, who is in his 50s, in Yeongdeungpo on Aug. 21. He had led a transport operation that smuggled more than 40,000 kilograms of gold bars bought in Hong Kong in 2015 and 2016 and sent them to Japan through airport transit areas. The group made profits worth hundreds of billions of won, according to the case.

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The statute of limitations for the fine has passed five years.

The Supreme Court finalized a sentence of one year and four months in prison and a fine of 662.3 billion won. After leaving prison, the man fled without paying. Following a property reassessment, the outstanding amount was calculated at 653.7 billion won.

Investigators said he rotated several mobile phones, including devices without service contracts, and used Telegram accounts registered under foreigners’ names during his time on the run. After his arrest, he reportedly argued that the five-year statute of limitations for the fine had expired, then rejected payment by saying he had no property left.

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I have no remaining assets.