A South Korean drug suspect sparked outrage by live streaming from his jail cell in Thailand.

Alleged drug trafficker Seo Jung Num, 44, reportedly made online broadcasts and published YouTube videos despite being detained at the Bang Lamung Police Station in Chonburi province.

He was arrested on October 3 for reportedly smuggling drugs from Thailand to South Korea in December 2023. He was also found to have overstayed his visa by 373 days.

However, he claimed to have bribed corrupt police to give him special privileges - a common practice in all walks of public life within the country, from paying off police to bribing driving instructors or even school teachers for preferential treatment.

The series of videos were reportedly published on YouTube. They show the alleged smuggler - who claimed to be the 'richest man in Thailand' - playing music, making sandwiches for other inmates, smoking cigarettes, and showing the living conditions in the prison quarters.

Seo Jung Num also live streamed himself while inside a police truck headed to an immigration detention facility in Bangkok on October 14.

In a statement, the Bang Lamung Provincial Police Station said they had allowed Seo Jung Num to use his phone allegedly for humanitarian reasons.

The statement said: 'On October 10, MR. SEUNGMIN YOON became ill while in the detention room at Bang Lamung Police Station, and MR. SEO JUNGNUM asked for permission to use his mobile phone to contact his relatives.

'The police officers considered that it was an urgent case, giving basic rights to detainees, so they gave him the phone left outside the detention room to contact their relatives to inform them about their illnesses. The Bang Lamung Police officers then took MR. SEUNGMIN YOON to Bang Lamung Hospital for treatment.

'After completing his treatment, on October 11, 2024, he was taken back to the detention room at Bang Lamung Police Station. Later, on October 14, 2024, the Chonburi Immigration Police came to take MR. SEUNGMIN YOON to proceed with deporting him out of the Kingdom and proceed with the relevant matters.'

They added that the claims of bribery were being investigated.

Police Major General Cherngron Rimphadee, spokesman for the Thai Immigration Bureau, said on October 16 that the suspect was being kept in custody as authorities were preparing to extradite him to South Korea.

He was held at the Bang Lamung Police Station before being taken to Bangkok.

He said: 'The suspect was able to livestream while in the custody of Chon Buri immigration officers, Sub-Lt Pramote Fueangfung and Sgt Athit Thongbai. They failed to thoroughly search him, allowing him to retain a mobile phone.'

The Chonburi Immigration Police Chief has suspended the officers who will face disciplinary measures.

Seo Jung Num was wanted for allegedly smuggling to South Korea crystal meth disguised in coffee packets.