35 Vietnamese Nationals Arrested in South Korea Over Drug Trafficking and Use

Busan Metropolitan Police in South Korea announced on September 16 that they have arrested 35 Vietnamese nationals on charges of drug trafficking and use. Of those arrested, 24 were identified as undocumented immigrants who had entered South Korea on student visas and remained after their permits expired, according to SBS. Police allege that a Vietnamese man in his 20s, identified as 'A', played a leading role in smuggling drugs from abroad for sale and distribution within South Korea. He is accused of receiving substances such as ketamine and ecstasy via international mail from a Vietnamese national residing in Poland, and then redistributing them. Authorities found 40 grams of ketamine and 10 ecstasy pills at A's residence. Based on his testimony, mobile phone forensic analysis, and account transaction records, police subsequently identified accomplices. Consequently, from October 2025 to August 2026, 35 Vietnamese individuals were arrested for violating the Narcotics Control Act and other charges, with 15 of them being detained. In addition, seven South Korean nationals, including five naturalized citizens, were arrested on suspicion of drug use. These individuals reportedly purchased and sold drugs through Zalo, a messaging application used by the Vietnamese community to evade police surveillance. The drugs were primarily distributed at Vietnamese karaoke establishments in Busan, Ulsan, Changwon, and South Chungcheong Province. Investigations revealed that the owners of these establishments provided locations and equipment for drug use, while customers or female staff consumed the drugs on the premises. In total, the police seized 17.67 grams of ecstasy and 48.7 grams of ketamine during this investigation, quantities sufficient for approximately 8,000 people. The source of 199.55 grams of ketamine previously seized by customs has also been identified through this investigation, though the alleged overseas supplier remains at large and is currently wanted. South Korean authorities indicated that there may be more undeclared drugs within the country and plan to expand their investigation based on the arrested suspects. Vietnam currently has the largest foreign resident population in South Korea, numbering around 98,000 people, followed by China with 94,000 and the United States with 23,000, according to data released by Statistics Korea on July 9, 2026. The number of Vietnamese nationals traveling to South Korea has increased significantly in recent years due to demand for study, training, and seasonal labor.