Swinging and Group Sex Parties in Gangnam, Seoul... Police Arrest Club Owner

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Order Division announced on the 25th that they have arrested and are investigating club owner Mr. A and two employees at a club located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, on charges including facilitating prostitution. / Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] A group that recruited customers wishing to engage in swapping (sexual intercourse by exchanging spouses or partners) or group sex with others and provided venues for sexual activities has been arrested by the police.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Order Division announced on the 25th that they have detained and are investigating Club owner Mr. A and two employees at a club located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu on charges of facilitating prostitution. According to the police, Mr. A and others operated the club and recruited male and female customers through social networking services (SNS) such as Twitter, charging an entrance fee of 100,000 to 300,000 KRW, and facilitated or allowed them to watch swapping and group sex. Under criminal law, the crime of facilitating prostitution stipulates that those who mediate sexual intercourse for profit can be punished with up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 15 million KRW.

The police also examined whether charges of prostitution mediation under the Act on the Punishment of Procuring Sexual Traffic could be applied to Mr. A and others. However, since they did not fully recruit people to sell sex or receive payment for it, only charges of facilitating prostitution were applied. Furthermore, the police judged that the participants in the sexual activities voluntarily engaged in swapping, knowing that spectators were present, as recruitment was conducted in advance on SNS. However, the police explained that if the acts were not forced, it is practically difficult to apply charges to the participants. At the time of arrest, it was reported that there were 26 male and female customers in the club.

The police plan to expand the investigation after receiving intelligence that there are more clubs operating in this manner.