Easy money’ drug delivery jobs lure young Koreans into prison
 

High-paying part-time offers mask severe legal consequences

For a quick payout, some young Koreans are falling into the trap of drug trafficking jobs advertised as “high-paying part-time work,” only to end up behind bars.

Park, a 21-year-old, was sentenced to 10 years in prison this February after being caught working as a so-called carrier who smuggled drugs into Korea by concealing them in clothes and on the body, and later as a draper who left drugs hidden in residential areas for contactless delivery.

In addition to the 7.48 million won ($5,400) he had earned, the court ordered him and an accomplice to forfeit more than 100 million won, the assessed value of the drugs he distributed.

According to police data released Thursday, people in their 20s and 30s accounted for 59.8 percent of drug offender cases in the first half of this year.

While the statistics include all types of offenders, from users to suppliers to cultivators, legal experts note that those in their 20s and 30s are disproportionately recruited as low-level distributors.

“Economically vulnerable young people often encounter these offers while searching for part-time jobs,” said Park Jin-sil, a lawyer specializing in narcotics cases. “Many agree to work without fully realizing the seriousness of the crime.”

If the value of drugs handled exceeds 50 million won, offenders face charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, which carries heavier penalties.

Claims that they did not know what they were carrying rarely succeed in court. Judges generally find that outsized payments and instructions to avoid leaving traces suggest at least indirect awareness of trafficking.

A narcotics investigator warned that young recruits are easily replaced by ringleaders and often arrested before receiving full payment.

“Even if they manage to get paid, the money will be seized and they will carry a criminal record along with prison time,” the investigator said. “Right now, the going rate for a draper is about 20,000 won per job. It is not worth throwing away your life for that.”

Source : https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20250905/easy-money-drug-delivery-jobs-lure-young-koreans-into-prison?prnewsidx=0a52a558-8a35-11f0-b492-02eed468a967

Comprehension

What kind of jobs were advertised as “high-paying part-time work”?
How was Park, the 21-year-old, involved in drug trafficking?
What was Park’s prison sentence?
How much money did the court order Park and his accomplice to forfeit?
What percentage of drug offenders were in their 20s and 30s?
Why are young people more often recruited for drug distribution?
What happens if the value of drugs handled exceeds 50 million won?
Why do judges usually reject claims that offenders didn’t know they were carrying drugs?

Discussion

Why do you think young people are more vulnerable to these “part-time job traps”?
Do you agree that unusually high pay should be a “red flag” when applying for jobs?
What responsibility do governments and schools have to warn young people about drug recruitment?
Why do you think many young recruits ignore the risks and take these jobs anyway?
How does poverty or financial stress influence crime involvement?
Do you think heavier punishments are effective in preventing young people from joining drug trafficking?
What other ways could society support “economically vulnerable” youth?
Should social media platforms be held responsible if such job ads are posted there?
What message does this story send about “easy money” opportunities?
If you were advising a young person, how would you warn them about these risks?

Vocabulary

Mask – to hide or cover up something.
Drug trafficking – the illegal trade and distribution of drugs.
Carrier – a person who smuggles or transports drugs secretly.
Draper – someone who hides drugs in public or residential places for others to pick up.
Forfeit – to lose something (like money or property) because of a crime.
Economically vulnerable – people with weak financial stability, often struggling with money.
Low-level distributors – people who play a small role in selling or moving illegal goods.
Aggravated punishment – harsher penalties for serious crimes.
Outsized payments – unusually large amounts of money offered, often suspicious.
Criminal record – an official record of a person’s crimes kept by the government.