Gang Detaining Two Women in Apartment and Forcing 1,500 Prostitution Acts "Admits Charges"

First Trial of a Woman in Her 20s, Husband, and Lover
"Deceived Victim Women with Promises of Accommodation and Jobs"

Three suspects in their 20s, including a woman, admitted to their charges of luring women with promises of accommodation and jobs, forcing them into prostitution, and embezzling approximately 100 million won in prostitution fees.

On the 16th, the 11th Criminal Division of Daegu District Court (Chief Judge Lee Jong-gil) held the first trial for four men and women in their 20s, including A (27, female), who were indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (forcing prostitution, etc.). The defendants are A, her husband B, her lover C, and D. It was investigated that they all lived together in the same house. Regarding the prosecution’s summary of facts, all defendants except B admitted to the charges. B said he would express his opinion at the next trial date.

From September 2022 to last August, A and her group moved between apartments in the Daegu area, repeatedly assaulting and threatening two victim women they lived with, forcing them into prostitution over 1,000 times. A’s group is also charged with extorting about 100 million won earned by the two women from prostitution.

A met the victim women while visiting a restaurant where an acquaintance worked in 2022. She got to know the victim women who were working as employees there. At the time, the victims were in financial difficulties, and A gained their trust by giving them money for baby formula and pocket money, and buying meals for them. After becoming close, A deceived them by promising "jobs and accommodation" and then forced them into prostitution. One of the victim women tried to escape twice but was caught and confined again due to a mobile phone location tracking application.

It was investigated that the victim women engaged in prostitution about 1,500 times in total, with each woman forced into prostitution approximately 750 times over 1 year and 7 months. They received 100,000 to 200,000 won per session, and if they failed to meet a daily quota of 300,000 to 500,000 won, A and others assaulted them. A received the prostitution fees into her own bank account and spent the money on living expenses.

A also extorted about 100 million won from the victim women’s parents under the pretext of hospital bills and other expenses. Additionally, it was revealed during the investigation that one male accomplice falsely registered marriage with a victim woman to obtain a newlywed couple’s lease deposit loan.

The crimes of A’s group were uncovered thanks to the keen observation of a police officer living in the same apartment complex. Song Oh-kyung, head of the violent crimes team at the Women and Youth Division of Daegu Jungbu Police Station, became suspicious of the victims who were always seen wearing the same clothes and surrounded by men within the apartment complex, and after inquiries, uncovered the crimes.

At the trial, A and her lovers’ defense attorneys stated, "They generally confess to the charges," but added, "Some charges seem excessive, so we ask for consideration on those parts." The victims’ attorney submitted a petition requesting severe punishment for A’s group.