Songdo storage yard suspected of illegal vehicle smuggling

A storage yard in Songdo, Incheon, has become a suspected hub for the illegal smuggling of stolen vehicles. Dozens of high-end and new vehicles, including rental cars, have been found abandoned in the yard without license plates.

Industry insiders suggest that brokers are exploiting loopholes in customs monitoring at Incheon Port. By loading illegally obtained vehicles into containers at unauthorized sites, criminals can make physical tracking nearly impossible once the containers are locked and shipped abroad.

Victims, including rental car companies, report that they are often forced to guard the perimeter of these private storage yards overnight to prevent their vehicles from being dismantled or shipped, as police intervention is limited due to the private nature of the property.