Suspicious Restaurant Charging 200,000 Won Admission Fee... 22 People Raid 'Seuwaping Club'

Seocho-gu Swapping Club Owner in 50s Arrested
22 Attendees Including Observers Released Due to Lack of Grounds for Punishment
Police Raid on Site... No Evidence of Drug Use Found

A man in his 50s who operated a so-called 'swapping (group sex) club' in Seocho-gu, Seoul, was arrested by the police. Twenty-two club members, including observers, were sent home as there was no legal basis for their punishment.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that on the night of June 24, 2022, they arrested owner A and two employees who were operating a group sex and swapping club in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on charges including facilitating prostitution. The video shows the interior of the raided club. (This video is unrelated to the article) [Video provided by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

According to the police on the 27th, the Seocho Police Station in Seoul announced that they have booked and are investigating a man in his 50s, Mr. A, on charges of facilitating prostitution, violating the Act on the Regulation of Conducting Sexual Business, and violating the Food Sanitation Act.

Mr. A is suspected of posting texts and photos on SNS (social networking services) to recruit men and women to participate in swapping, and then facilitating their activities at a general restaurant in the Seocho-gu area.

Article 242 of the Criminal Act (facilitating prostitution) stipulates that a person who facilitates sexual intercourse for profit shall be punished by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 15 million won.

At around midnight on the 24th of last month, the police arrested Mr. A at the scene. Initially, the police received a tip that "there seems to be drug use and swapping at a club in Seocho-dong" and launched a crackdown.

The police waited near the club from the evening before the raid, confirmed the entrance of club members, and then raided the site. No signs of drug use were found at the scene. It is reported that the 22 club members, including observers present at the time of arrest, paid between 100,000 and 200,000 won to enter the club.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that on June 24 last year, they arrested one business owner and two employees at a club located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on charges including facilitating prostitution.
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

Meanwhile, in June of last year, the owner and employees of a club in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, were arrested on charges of arranging group sex for money, while customers who used the establishment were sent home without any further action.

At that time, the police judged that no money or goods were exchanged among the customers and that the sexual acts were voluntary. If no money or coercion was involved and the acts were between consenting adults, they are not subject to punishment even if they do not conform to social norms.

However, if there were signs of prostitution at the scene or minors were involved, they could be punished under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes or the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse.