After the original front license plate was confiscated, the student reportedly ordered a replacement through Aliexpress. (Image provided by Jeju Seobu Police)
JEJU, Sept. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Two Bangladeshi international students were charged by Jeju Seobu Police after one was caught driving a vehicle with a counterfeit license plate allegedly purchased from a Chinese online marketplace.
On Wednesday, police confirmed that a man in his 20s, identified as A, had been booked on charges of driving without a license, a violation of South Korea’s Road Traffic Act. Another student, also in his 20s and identified as B, is under investigation for allegedly breaching the Motor Vehicle Management Act.
Authorities believe that A was driving B’s car without a valid license and using a fake license plate when he was stopped on September 7 at approximately 10:55 p.m. in Nohyeong-dong, Jeju City. The car had been flagged due to unpaid fines.
A Nohyeong District officer on patrol spotted the vehicle and initiated a stop. Upon closer inspection, officers noticed discrepancies in the front license plate, which appeared flat and lacked the standard three-dimensional engravings. Further investigation revealed that the plate had been meticulously forged.
Investigators discovered that B had accrued fines totaling 1.6 million won for various infractions, including speeding. After the original front license plate was confiscated on February 27, B reportedly ordered a replacement through Aliexpress, a Chinese e-commerce platform, for 20,000 won. The forged plate was then fitted onto the car on March 24.
Police are continuing to investigate the case, focusing on the students’ activities and the broader issue of counterfeit plates, underscoring the dangers associated with the easy availability of fake identification materials online.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
