Jeonnam Police Arrest 77 Illegal Prostitution Offenders, Detain 2

17% Increase in Crackdown Cases and 30% Rise in Arrests Compared to the Same Period Last Year

Jeonnam police are conducting a search and seizure at a game center. Photo by Jeonnam Police Agency

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency announced on the 15th that it had arrested 77 people, including business operators, by cracking down on illegal entertainment establishments in the first half of this year, uncovering 20 illegal game rooms and 13 prostitution establishments.

During this crackdown, the police arrested two people, including a 60-year-old illegal game room operator Mr. A, and booked 38 others, including other operators and employees. They also seized 1,230 gaming machines and over 43 million won in cash at the scene.

The arrested Mr. A is suspected of installing 100 gaming machines in a building in Hwasun-eup, Jeonnam, from February 2020 to February 2021, operating a gambling game room, charging a commission based on the game points customers earned, and illegally exchanging money.

Additionally, due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, 13 massage parlor owners who employed illegal foreign women and arranged prostitution, along with 11 foreign women involved in prostitution, were booked.

On February 2, the Hwasun Police Station arrested eight people, including an operator who installed games prohibited for youth and illegally exchanged winning points for cash, detaining one person.

On March 8, the Mokpo Police Station arrested three people, including an operator who installed games prohibited for youth and illegally exchanged winning points for cash, detaining one person. On April 5, the Naju Police Station arrested three massage parlor owners who employed illegal foreign women and arranged prostitution.

On April 5, the Suncheon Police Station arrested eight people, including massage parlor owners, who recruited male clients through internet advertisements and arranged acts similar to sexual intercourse.

The police received pre-indictment seizure orders from the court for four cases involving illegal profits amounting to 65 million won, and reported three cases worth approximately 1.08 billion won to the National Tax Service as taxation data.

To eradicate illegal businesses, the police are simultaneously conducting crackdowns along with booking building owners of prostitution establishments, pre-indictment seizure of illegal profits, and notifying the National Tax Service for taxation purposes.

A Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency official stated, “We will create a healthy and safe living environment through focused crackdowns on illegal entertainment establishments and thorough recovery of criminal proceeds, centered on a specialized investigation team.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.