Gang Arrested for Recruiting Foreign Women for 'Officetel Prostitution'

The officetel where prostitution took place. Photo by Gangnam Police Agency, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] An owner and a broker who employed foreign women to mediate prostitution at an officetel in Changwon, Gyeongnam, were arrested by the police.

On the 10th, the Gyeongnam Police Agency announced that owner Mr. A (44) and a foreign female broker (26) who introduced women to the owner were sent to the prosecution under arrest for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution and the Immigration Control Act.

According to the police, they are suspected of operating prostitution by employing six foreign women illegally staying in eight rooms of a residential officetel in Changwon for seven months from September last year to March this year.

The group reportedly mediated prostitution for male clients who came after seeing internet advertisements, charging between 90,000 and 240,000 KRW.

The police applied for seizure and confiscation of about 200 million KRW in criminal proceeds earned from prostitution over seven months and handed over the six foreign women illegally staying and engaged in prostitution to the Changwon Immigration Office.

They also notified the building owner to prevent recurrence of prostitution at the officetel. Additionally, the Korea Communications Commission took follow-up measures such as blocking the internet sites and advertisement phone numbers.

A Gyeongnam Police Agency official stated, "As COVID-19 reached its peak and the spread is declining, with expectations for a return to normal life, prostitution may spread," adding, "We plan to strengthen crackdowns."

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