"Earning 700 Million Won in Six Months from Prostitution"…Self-Proclaimed 'King of Bucheon' Arrested

Prostitution Operations in Bucheon, Goyang, Bupyeong, and Gangnam Officetels
Two Agency Agents Who Arranged Thai Women Also Arrested

These are the criminal proceeds and items seized by the police from a prostitution brokerage organization. / Photo by Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The head and employees of a corporate-style prostitution organization, who boasted of their wealth by calling themselves the "King of Bucheon," have been arrested by the police. It was revealed that they earned about 700 million KRW in profits from prostitution within half a year.

On the 29th, the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency arrested Jeong, a man in his 30s and the head of the organization, along with 13 employees on charges of mediating prostitution by renting officetels in 34 locations across the metropolitan area, including Bucheon and Goyang in Gyeonggi Province, Bupyeong in Incheon, and Gangnam in Seoul. Among them, Jeong and three employees were detained.

From February to August, they posted advertisements on online prostitution mediation sites and charged visiting men up to 230,000 KRW for prostitution services, generating about 700 million KRW in revenue over six months.

Jeong distributed profits to 11 branch managers based on sales performance and gave work instructions via messenger programs to avoid police crackdowns. It was investigated that they concealed their identities by using nicknames based on cartoon characters instead of real names.

Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency. / Photo by Yonhap News

After the case was reported in the media last month, Jeong and his group tried to evade the police by hiding their mobile phone and card usage records and using public transportation to flee, but they were eventually caught at the end of last month.

The police also charged Jeong with assaulting prostitution women and employees using weapons. The first trial for this group will be held on the 18th of next month at the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Court.

Additionally, the police arrested Mr. A, who introduced Thai women for prostitution to Jeong’s group, and also apprehended his wife, Ms. B, who holds Thai nationality. Known as an "agency," they connected Thai women residing in Korea with prostitution establishments and received money in return. During police investigations, the couple reportedly stated, "There are more than 100 prostitution establishments supplied with Thai women."

The police confiscated about 50 million KRW in cash and froze bank account balances totaling about 77 million KRW before prosecution. Therefore, this couple is prohibited from disposing of their illegal earnings at will.

Based on testimonies, the police are expanding the investigation by conducting searches and seizures on the accounts used by this couple.