Police Completely Crack Down on Chinese-Korean Violent Organization Accused of Assault and Threats

Gang of 'Garibong Bodo Association' Arrested for Assaulting and Threatening Karaoke Business Owners

The police have dismantled a violent Chinese-Korean organized crime group that had been assaulting and threatening karaoke business owners in the Garibong-dong area of Guro-gu, Seoul.

Members of the 'Garibong Pedestrian Association' are blocking the entrance of a karaoke room with a vehicle and threatening the owner. [Image source=Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced on the morning of the 20th that they arrested nine suspects on charges including organizing a criminal group, violating the Employment Security Act, violating the Narcotics Control Act, and forming a criminal organization. The suspects were transferred on the 6th and 14th of this month. Among them, four key suspects, including the 40-year-old ringleader A, were sent to detention.

They are accused of monitoring 40 karaoke establishments in the Garibong-dong area and assaulting and threatening owners who did not use their brothel services. Except for one individual, they were confirmed to be members of the criminal organization called the ‘Garibong Brothel Association,’ which supplies hostesses to karaoke bars. It is known that they blocked karaoke entrances with vehicles and disrupted business operations through false 112 emergency calls. They also sent videos threatening victims with weapons and damaged karaoke property.

Narcotics and weapons were discovered and seized. The police confirmed the possession, use, and distribution of methamphetamine and weapons at the homes and vehicles of some suspects.

All suspects are known to be ethnic Chinese-Koreans. Two, including A, have naturalized as Korean citizens, and one holds permanent residency in Korea.

The police regard this case as an organized crime. The suspects are reported to have formed a criminal group by merging six brothels into one since January to monopolize brothel operations in the Garibong-dong area.

They divided roles among themselves, including the ringleader as the boss, a manager responsible for funds and communication, and an operative who moved hostesses to karaoke bars. They operated a group chat room, monitored karaoke bars under the boss’s instructions, reported orders, and maintained a command and control system.

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