The number of illegal copies of Korean films and dramas is rising sharply in Southeast Asian countries amid the growing popularity of Korean content.

Thai authorities said they have confiscated some 140-thousand illegal copies of Korean films, music videos and dramas worth a total of around one-and-a-half billion won.

The pirated versions are sold for two- to three-thousand won per copy, or about ten times cheaper than the retail price.

Local police say they are having difficulty penalizing the creators of the illegal copies as Korean filmmakers and producers have not filed lawsuits for violations of intellectual property rights.