This Thai man customized and rebranded used motorcycles, selling them on various social media platforms, including Facebook. Despite the illegality of his operation, he was remarkably successful, selling 95 motorcycles to Thai buyers throughout the country for prices ranging from 600,000 won to 1.55 million won per vehicle. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 11 (Korea Bizwire) —On March 10th, the Seoul Immigration Office announced the arrest of a 42-year-old Thai man for violating the Immigration Act. The man, identified only as “A,” was not merely in the country illegally; he was illegally modifying used motorcycles and selling them on social media in Korea.
For over a year, “A” had been brazenly remodelling and selling motorcycles from a makeshift 165㎡ (50 pyeong) plastic house in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. He customized and rebranded used motorcycles, selling them on various social media platforms, including Facebook. Despite the illegality of his operation, he was remarkably successful, selling 95 motorcycles to Thai buyers throughout the country for prices ranging from 600,000 won to 1.55 million won per vehicle.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of those buyers were illegal residents who drove the motorcycles without license plates, registration, or insurance. The Seoul Immigration Office has stressed the potential danger of unregistered and uninsured motorcycles, which can be utilized for criminal activities and may make it difficult to receive proper compensation in the event of a traffic accident. The office has pledged to continue its efforts to crack down on those who sell or purchase these types of motorcycles.
Meanwhile, “A” has been referred to the prosecution for further legal action. The case serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks associated with illegal immigration and unregulated sales in the dynamic landscape of social media.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
