Chinese Gangs Operate in Korea

The prosecution has announced that one of the largest Chinese syndicates ``Snakeheads`` has made its way into South Korea and operated various businesses. Its members got out visas illegally to come to Korea.

Snakeheads refer to the organized crime syndicates in the Mainland China. They usually engage in trade of weapons, smuggling of narcotics, sex-trafficking, tomb-raiding, and smuggling of illegal aliens. According to the prosecution`s explanation, some syndicates trade billions of dollars.

Currently in the Mainland, hundreds of regional or ethnic subgroups of Snakeheads are in operation. For example, North Korean-Chinese have organized more than a dozen local Snakeheads across the Mainland.

In addition, the prosecution has verified 4 other small syndicates are in operation in areas where North Korean-Chinese workers reside, such as Gooroh Gu and Ahnsan City.

These syndicates are running illegal businesses like illegal casinos, bidding-related corruption and hit-man business. The syndicates also are waging a brutal war with each other to widen their territories.

Their organizations got into the highlight by the arrest of Oh Young-chul, the second man of the Snake gang, by the police in April of this year.

According to the police, Oh and his men stabbed and beat two citizens in front of a pub in Daerim Dong, Youngdeungpo Gu, Seoul on March 27.

The nature of their crime is heinous. For example, Oh stabbed a man, who was just trying to rescue the battery victims, with a broken bottle and made him blind for the rest of his life.

In addition, the gangsters are moving their residence frequently with their IDs being hidden, making it hard for the police and prosecution to investigate and arrest them.

Jin-Kyun Kil leon@donga.com