Prostitution, Fraud, and Special Confinement... Husband Also Involved in 10-Year Gaslighting of Middle School Classmate by Woman in Her 20s

Extorted Lawyer Fees Using Voice Phishing as an Excuse

A married couple has been arrested by the police for forcing prostitution through gaslighting (psychological manipulation) for over 10 years and extorting valuables worth around 300 million won. The woman in her 20s and the victim were middle school classmates.

According to Yonhap News Agency on September 16, Suwon Paldal Police Station in Gyeonggi Province plans to request an arrest warrant on the same day for a woman in her 20s, referred to as A, who was apprehended on charges including coercing prostitution and fraud. A's husband, B, who is in his 30s, has already been arrested and is under investigation on charges of coercing prostitution, fraud, special arrest, special confinement, special assault, and quasi-rape.

Suwon Paldal Police Station exterior. Photo by Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, Yonhap News Agency

Since 2016, when they were middle school students, A made her classmate C sign a strange contract requiring her to "pay for cosmetics every month." She continued to demand money and created debts. These demands persisted even after they became adults.

In 2020, A met C again and pressured her to repay the past debts. Later, she lied to C, claiming that C's name had been implicated in a voice phishing scam and that she needed to hire a lawyer, thereby defrauding her of a total of about 54 million won.

Together with her husband B, A forced C to engage in prostitution and took the proceeds from October 2023 to July this year in places such as Paju and Pyeongtaek, stealing a total of about 260 million won. During this period, B is reported to have assaulted C with a blunt weapon and committed quasi-sexual acts.

On August 8, after receiving a report from C's husband stating, "I think my wife was confined," the police began an investigation. On September 7 and 15, the couple were arrested separately at their residence.

Additionally, two acquaintances of B who assisted in the crimes, such as by driving while prostitution was being coerced, have been booked without detention on related charges.

The police stated, "C and her husband do not live together, so he did not immediately recognize the crime," and added, "While B is already in custody, we also plan to request an arrest warrant for A, as her offenses are considered serious."

The police are currently investigating A and others to determine the exact motives for the crimes and to identify any additional victims.