[Economic Crime 24 Hours] ‘Meoktwi’ That Crushed Excited Hearts... Various Overseas Travel Scams

Recruiting Pilgrims for 'Santiago Pilgrimage' by Visiting Churches to Commit Crimes
Travel Agency Defrauding 70 Travelers Under the Pretense of Western Europe Tours
Golf Course Caddy Who Fled After Receiving Only Travel Payments

In July of last year, when overseas travel became active as COVID-19 was virtually over, Mr. Park, a devout Catholic, met Mr. Gong Mo (36), the head of a travel agency, at a church. It was at a travel briefing session that Gong held for church members.

Gong introduced his travel agency as a one-person company specializing in the Santiago pilgrimage. The Santiago pilgrimage route stretches about 800 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago in Spain. It is considered a holy site as it is the path that Jesus' disciple James walked to spread the gospel, attracting many travelers every year.

Recruiting Travelers by Exploiting Faith... Cancellation One Week Before Departure

Mr. Park, who had always been interested in the Santiago pilgrimage, booked the trip as if mesmerized by Gong’s explanation. Although it required about 10 million won per person, it was relatively cheaper compared to other travel agencies.

However, on August 31, less than a week before departure, a problem arose. They were notified that the Santiago pilgrimage trip, scheduled for 42 nights and 44 days, was canceled. After Mr. Park’s initial shock, strange rumors began circulating among other travelers who had booked with Gong. It was said that Gong had not booked local accommodations or airline tickets and had used the travel funds for personal purposes.

Travelers including Mr. Park demanded a refund from Gong, but Gong stalled by saying, “I will refund you if I receive additional travel expenses at the end of the year.” As the refund delay continued, more travelers filed complaints with the police, and an investigation began at the Gwangjin Police Station in Seoul.

According to the police, 25 victims were confirmed during the investigation, with damages amounting to about 250 million won. Some victims had taken out bank loans or used retirement funds to make reservations. After one interrogation, the police applied for an arrest warrant for Gong, but the court dismissed it, citing a low risk of flight. Ultimately, Gong was sent to the prosecution without detention on September 29 of last year on charges of fraud.

Unilateral Cancellation Notice... Travel Agency Ceased Operations Within a Day

A similar incident occurred earlier in February last year in Gangnam, Seoul. A small travel agency sent a text message to customers stating, “Due to circumstances, it is difficult to proceed with all travel products, so a blanket cancellation will be processed,” and ceased operations within a day. The agency had been selling European travel products such as trips to the Balkans and Switzerland online.

Consumers who received the sudden notice called the company to understand the situation but could not reach anyone. The message contained no information about refunds. One victim, Mr. Jeong (a pseudonym), paid a total of 4,798,000 won including a deposit through the website for a trip to Egypt with his wife. He paid the remaining 4,198,000 won the day before the agency ceased operations. Jeong appealed, “From a consumer’s perspective, this can only be seen as a planned fraud.”

On the 28th, marking the start of the peak summer vacation season, international travelers visiting Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 are moving towards the departure hall. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Consumers who paid by credit card were able to get refunds through their card companies, but those who transferred money directly to the account could not get refunds as they could not contact the company. Eventually, victims opened an open chat room and proceeded with a class-action lawsuit.

The Gangnam Police Station, which received the case, booked the agency’s 70-year-old representative Mr. Yang on fraud charges and sent him to the prosecution without detention on March 28 of the same year. During the investigation, 70 complainants were identified, with damages amounting to 170 million won. Representative Yang reportedly stated during the police investigation that “due to worsening business conditions, it became difficult to proceed with travel products.”

“You Can Travel Cheaply to Thailand” The Two-Faced Golf Course Caddy

Meanwhile, during the same period, the Hyehwa Police Station in Seoul began receiving complaints against Mr. Jang (late 30s). Jang, who worked as a caddy at a golf course, openly told golf course members and colleagues that he worked at a travel agency and could send them to Thailand at a low cost.

From October to December 2022, 26 people were deceived by Jang and gave him money. Each victim paid between 1.3 million and 3.5 million won, but no one actually went on the trip. Jang squandered the 41 million won he received as travel fees on repaying his debts, living expenses, and gambling funds.

When the police investigation began in February last year following the victims’ complaints, Jang disappeared without a trace. After a stakeout, the police arrested Jang on June 7, four months after the investigation started, while he was living in seclusion at his girlfriend’s house. A week later, Jang was sent to the prosecution in custody, but the victims’ damages were never recovered.