A South Korean man convicted in the Philippines for the killing of three South Koreans allegedly tries to escape prison by using a heavy-duty drone to fly over prison walls, but the plan is thwarted, according to reports aired this week. Park Wang-yeol, 47, is said to have devised the scheme shortly before a temporary transfer to South Korea in March.
Reports say Park planned to strap himself to a large drone with a reported capacity of up to 75 kilograms and then cross over the walls of the Philippine prison where he was held. The South China Morning Post reports that the plot fails after his accomplice’s test or rehearsal footage reveals details of the plan, preventing the escape from proceeding. Other coverage likewise describes the drone method but focuses more on the alleged intent and the timing of the scheme relative to Park’s transfer.
Park was sentenced in 2022 to 60 years in prison for the 2016 killings near Bacolod City. Multiple outlets also describe him as being linked to a drug distribution network while incarcerated, though the escape reports center primarily on the alleged drone plot and how it is uncovered.
