YANGON: A South Korean national who operated a Korean language school in Kamayut Township and arranged “blind dates” for Myanmar women has been sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labour for human trafficking, according to the Myanmar Police Force.
The case involved Ma Kyawt Kay Khaing, a resident of Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) Township in Yangon Region, who introduced a Myanmar woman—an acquaintance attending a modeling course—to Hwang Hee Hwan, a South Korean running the language school at Diamond Condo in Kamayut Township.
Hwang reportedly persuaded women by promising that if they married South Korean men, they would receive a substantial dowry and monthly support of 1.5 (US$714) to two million kyats.
Translation during these arrangements was provided by No Zin Moe (also known as Su Jin), an employee at the language school.
The woman was later introduced to another South Korean, Bang Gyeong Cheol. Wedding-style photos were taken at Shwedagon Pagoda and People’s Square Park.
The man lived with the woman for about three days before returning to South Korea. They continued communicating online, during which he reportedly transferred around 60 million kyats to Hwang. However, only about two million kyats was given to the woman.
Authorities found that Hwang had exploited the situation for financial gain by arranging marriages with foreign men. He, along with Ma and No, was charged by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Police Unit (Yangon).
The case was filed at Kamayut Myoma Police Station under Case No. (P) 183/2025, in accordance with Sections 35 and 44 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law.
On March 13, the Kamayut District Court sentenced Hwang to 15 years in prison with hard labor under Section 35.
The two accomplices, Ma and No Zin Moe, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour under Sections 35 and 44. - Eleven Media/ANN
