Dozens of 'Gen Z' Gangsters from Dongdaemun Faction Arrested… Police Crack Down on Group Tracing Roots to 'Lee Jong-jae'

Some 40 members of the 'Dongdaemun faction' were apprehended by police, with 14 of them detained. Established in 1996 under the pretext of succeeding Lee Jong-jae, the organization had been holding memorial services to honor Lee, a political mobster during the Syngman Rhee administration. This marks the first time criminal charges as a violent group have been applied to the Dongdaemun faction, which has persisted for nearly 30 years.

Mr. A, the group's enforcer, and others recruited individuals known as 'school bosses' from local schools starting in 2017. Members underwent discipline training from organization executives at group barracks in villas in Seoul's Gangseo district and at 8 to 10 other locations in the metropolitan area. They displayed their power by tattooing 'Dongdaemun' on their chests and lining up for friendly organizations' events.

In February last year, about 50 members of the allied group gathered in downtown Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul, for a brawl. It was confirmed that they operated a so-called 'emergency strike team' to prepare for retaliation, including threats involving lethal weapons.

They are suspected of involvement in operating investment 'leading rooms' (fraud schemes) with the Sanggye faction, the largest organization in Seoul. Police are continuing their investigation into their involvement in crimes such as voice phishing and investment room scams, as well as their fundraising activities.