27 Out of 38 Establishments Shut Down
Building Owners and Operators Under Investigation
Illegal adult entertainment establishments that brazenly operated around schools in the Seoul area were caught in large numbers by the police.
Illegal adult entertainment establishments were shut down in large numbers due to police crackdowns. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 21st that they conducted a focused crackdown on 38 chronic illegal businesses within Seoul’s educational environment protection zones that had been caught three or more times, resulting in the closure of 27 establishments. Investigations into the owners who were caught are also underway. The police plan to apply the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution to places where prostitution was detected, and the Educational Environment Protection Act or other relevant charges to those where it was not.
Among the establishments closed this time, eight were confirmed to have operated for at least 10 years at the same location, changing owners despite continuous police crackdowns. Most of these businesses had registered as cosmetics retail or wholesale businesses, skin care services, etc., and operated illegally under names such as massage parlors.
Of the 11 establishments not yet closed, four have currently ceased illegal operations and closed their doors. Among the remaining seven, some are undergoing follow-up administrative procedures related to building laws, and some are expected to close due to contract expiration.
Although the police have been cracking down on harmful businesses around schools, there were limitations in detecting such illegal operations because these businesses fall under “free business” categories that do not require business registration or permits. However, in this crackdown, the police applied building law violation charges not only to the owners but also to the landlords, and strengthened cooperation with related agencies possessing administrative authority such as correction orders and fire inspections, which led to mass closures. In this regard, the police are continuing additional investigations into five establishments suspected of violating building laws.
For example, the “A Massage” establishment located in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, was closed after 15 years despite multiple crackdowns since 2010, as it had continued to use the same internal facilities. A police official explained, “In the past, only criminal penalties under the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution or the Educational Environment Protection Act were imposed, so punished owners would sell their businesses, and others would continue illegal operations using the same facilities, creating a vicious cycle. This time, by finding ways to apply building law violation charges to landlords and pressuring them, we were able to achieve closures.”
A police official stated, “We will develop this case of closing chronic illegal businesses further by actively reviewing not only business operators but also landlords for building law violations or aiding illegal operations during crackdowns,” and added, “We also plan to strengthen cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee, the education office, and local governments to ensure smooth closures following police crackdowns.”
Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency plans to operate a focused crackdown period on harmful businesses around schools from the 24th of this month until the 28th of next month, coinciding with the upcoming new school semester.
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