Korean caught red handed preying on tourists at hostels in Bangkok

hailand’s chief of immigration Lt-Gen Sompong “Big Oud” Chingduang personally announced and explained the arrest of a South Korean man who had been preying on tourists at hostels in Bangkok for years. 

Kim D.K, 30, was arrested with a wide variety of foreign currency after he stole from a British woman who was staying in the same dormitory room. 

He was found to be on overstay of more than 3 years and later admitted to at least ten thefts at hostels. A vinyl board showed a cartoon villain carrying a bag of swag from one hostel to another as the chief explained details of the case.

Police had received a report from a hostel earlier in the year that a South Korean man had stolen something. Other hostels were put on alert to look out for him. 

On October 24th in the central Bangkok tourist area of Chakrawat the authorities went to Room 502 at a hostel in Samphan Thawong where they found the suspect in possession of an Eastpak backpack and a cream colored bag.

Inside were two 14 gauge spanners and the following currency: US$195, 425,000 rupias, 73,000 dong, 13 ringgit, 6 Singapore dollars, 3,000 Cambodian rials, 5 pounds sterling and one yuan. 

Kim admitted forcing the padlock that secured a storage compartment under the bed of a fellow guest in the same room. He then removed the backpack and cream bag. 

Soon a female British tourist arrived to say that the bags were hers. 

Kim was found to have entered Thailand on June 30th 2016 and was allowed to stay until September of that year. 

But he didn’t leave or extend and built up an overstay of 3 years and 26 days. 

He admitted to using his time to steal from tourists at hostels and had committed at least ten thefts. 

He was charged with theft and aggravated burglary and handed over to the Chakrawat police. 

Thai Visa / Naew Na

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