‘Cheongdam Sajang,’ Who Supplied Drugs to Park Wang-yeol, Identified as 50-Year-Old Choi Byeong-min

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[Financial News] The identity of the so-called ‘Cheongdam Sajang,’ who supplied drugs to Park Wang-yeol and was identified as the top supplier in a large-scale drug trafficking ring, has been made public.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced on the 12th that it had disclosed the personal information and mug shot of Choi Byeong-min, 50, who is suspected of violating the Narcotics Control Act, after review by the Personal Information Disclosure Review Committee.
A mug shot is a criminal identification photo released by police for serious offenders. Along with Choi Byeong-min’s mug shot, police will post his face, name and age on the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency website for 30 days until the 11th of next month.
From September 2019 to September 2021, Choi allegedly operated on Telegram under the names ‘Cheongdam’ or ‘Cheongdam Sajang’ and smuggled and distributed about 46 kilograms of methamphetamine, about 48 kilograms of ketamine and about 76,000 tablets of MDMA, worth an estimated 38 billion won, into South Korea.
During the investigation into Park Wang-yeol, a drug distributor, police found signs that Choi had acted as a drug supplier and began tracking him. He was later arrested in Thailand on the 10th of last month, brought back to South Korea, and handed over to prosecutors in custody on the 11th.
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The investigation found that Choi secured a domestic sales network through an acquaintance known as Sara Kim. Sara Kim introduced Park Wang-yeol, whom she met in 2018 at the Bureau of Immigration Bicutan Detention Center in the Philippines, to Choi. Investigators said Choi later supplied Park with 2 kilograms of ketamine and 3,000 tablets of MDMA.
Police believe the smuggled drugs entered South Korea through international mail and were then distributed through so-called dead drop methods, including using subway storage lockers. They are expanding the investigation, saying Choi supplied drugs not only to Park Wang-yeol but also to multiple other dealers.
Police also found 57 BTC, worth about 6.8 billion won, in an electronic wallet used by Choi and believe it was drug transaction proceeds. In addition, they have requested pre-indictment preservation of about 6 billion won in criminal proceeds and are continuing their investigation into additional accomplices and higher-level figures.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter