91 Drug Offenders Arrested for Selling and Using Drugs at Gangnam Entertainment Venues

12 Detained, 79 Released Without Detention

Operators of entertainment establishments in Gangnam, Seoul, who sold ecstasy and ketamine, along with entertainment workers and customers who used drugs, were arrested by the police.

Drugs seized by the police
Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

On the 31st, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced that they had arrested 91 suspects, including entertainment venue operator A (42), for violations of the Narcotics Control Act related to drug sales and use. Among them, 12, including A, were sent to prosecution under detention. The group included 28 entertainment workers, 25 customers, and 38 drug suppliers and buyers.

A is accused of selling ecstasy and ketamine multiple times to customers and providing places for drug use at an entertainment venue he operated in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from January to September. Twenty-nine individuals, including hostesses, are suspected of supplying methamphetamine to entertainment workers and minors in the metropolitan area from April 2021 to September this year. Forty-eight people, including two organized crime members, are accused of purchasing and using these drugs. Thirteen people, including club MDs (3 sellers), are suspected of supplying, purchasing, or using drugs such as ecstasy with customers from June last year to April this year.

Drugs seized by the police
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

The police notified the Gangnam District Office of violations related to A and the establishment he operates. According to the Enforcement Rules of the Food Sanitation Act, a first administrative penalty results in a three-month business suspension, and a second administrative penalty can lead to business license cancellation or closure of the establishment.

A police official stated, "This is the first case reported to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police agency requesting administrative action under the Narcotics Control Act," adding, "Administrative penalties are a strong sanction against Gangnam entertainment venue operators whose monthly rent is tens of millions of won and monthly sales exceed 1 billion won."