"Serious Illegal Operations Uncovered at Trusted Experience Villages"... Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect Four Cases

It has been revealed that illegal activities are rampant in "rural experience and recreation villages" in Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit announced on September 25 that, between August 1 and August 29, it investigated illegal activities in rural experience and recreation villages in the province and uncovered a total of 10 violations, including unregistered lodging businesses, at four establishments.

Rural experience and recreation villages are operated by village communities that utilize natural environments, traditional culture, and unused public assets to provide citizens with accommodation, leisure spaces, and hands-on programs.

According to major violations, Village A and Village B recruited guests through online pre-booking systems and operated lodging businesses with facilities and equipment without registering with the relevant authorities. Additionally, they prepared and sold alcoholic beverages and food to the general public without reporting to the authorities, and expanded restaurant areas without submitting the required notifications. Furthermore, they occupied rivers without permission from the authorities to create water play areas and trout fishing experience zones, and installed and operated slides and other equipment.

Operating a lodging business without reporting to the authorities is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won under the Public Health Control Act. Operating a food service business or expanding restaurant areas without reporting to the authorities is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won under the Food Sanitation Act.

Cases Detected in the Investigation Results of Illegal Activities in Rural Experience and Recreation Villages by the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit

In addition, unauthorized occupation of rivers is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won under the River Act, and operating other theme park businesses without approval from the authorities is subject to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won under the Tourism Promotion Act.

Unlike most existing illegal businesses that operate covertly, the establishments detected this time had been officially designated as rural experience and recreation villages by the local governments and were receiving various subsidies and safety inspections.

Some of these villages had even received high ratings from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and are well-known nationwide, attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit stated that the detected establishments refused to cooperate with the investigation and attempted to destroy evidence, so the investigation was carried out using search and seizure warrants issued by the court.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit plans to eradicate illegal activities entrenched in the local community through collected evidence and supplementary investigations, and will notify relevant agencies such as city and county offices about facilities that threaten the lives and safety of residents in order to prevent safety accidents.

Gi Ido, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit, said, "Rural experience villages are not just tourist attractions, but spaces where residents and tourists can safely and securely enjoy hands-on activities. The fact that experience villages operating with local government support have engaged in illegal activities undermines the trust of residents. We will continue strict crackdowns and thorough investigations to protect the safety of the public."

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