“Entire 250-pyeong building used for prostitution”... Gangnam ‘fortress’ venue has grown resistant to 20 years of crackdowns

[Financial News] Seoul police have carried out a focused crackdown on harmful establishments, uncovering a large prostitution venue in the Gangnam area occupying about 250 pyeong (approximately 826 square meters). For establishments where prostitution repeatedly occurred, authorities took tough measures, including seizing and destroying even the beds used for business.
SMPA stated on the 2nd that during the first quarter of this year it had raided 95 prostitution establishments and harmful businesses near schools, arresting 170 people including operators and seizing 28.9 million won in proceeds from arranging prostitution. The number of enforcement cases rose 49% compared with the same period last year.
Police targeted chronic offenders that had continued operating for long periods by frequently changing their business names and putting forward so-called front men as nominal owners. For these venues, officers seized and destroyed business facilities such as beds, while working with local governments to carry out parallel procedures to shut the establishments down.
On the 26th of last month, police executed a search-and-seizure warrant on a large prostitution establishment in the Gangnam area and booked 10 people, including the operator, on suspicion of violating the Act on the Punishment of Procuring Prostitution and Associated Acts. The venue occupied about 250 pyeong from one basement level to the fourth floor above ground, and 40 beds along with 13.55 million won in cash were seized on site.
The investigation found that this establishment had continued operating in the same building for more than 20 years, evading police crackdowns by repeatedly changing operators. More recently, it is also suspected of arranging prostitution by attracting foreign tourists through overseas websites.
Police additionally cracked down on five large establishments near schools that had long been arranging prostitution, arresting 22 people and seizing 26 beds and other items. One of these venues has already completed a closure report, and closure procedures are under way for the remaining establishments to prevent them from reopening.
In addition, officers raided 12 illegal gaming halls in the Daerim-dong area of Yeongdeungpo District and the Garibong-dong area of Guro District, Seoul, arresting 15 people including operators. Police seized 177 gaming machines and 14.9 million won in cash, and confirmed illegal practices such as charging fees for games that were supposed to be free, modifying or tampering with machines, and providing cash payouts.
Police plan to continue enforcement activities targeting prostitution and illegal gambling. An SMPA official said, "We will actively pursue punishment of building owners who allowed illegal businesses to operate and the recovery of criminal proceeds," and added, "In cooperation with relevant agencies, we will also impose tax and administrative sanctions in parallel to enhance the effectiveness of our crackdowns."

jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter