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| The entrance of Burning Sun nightclub in Gangnam, Seoul, which closed in February amid multiple allegations including drug use, sexual violence and ties with police. Korea Times file |
By Kim Hyun-bin
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) is conducting a special investigation into possible corrupt ties between police officers and entertainment establishments under their jurisdiction.
The investigation comes amid growing allegations involving Burning Sun, a now-closed nightclub in the posh Gangnam area of southern Seoul, including the club owners' alleged bribery of police via a retired officer.
On Feb. 25, a special SMPA taskforce began a three-month investigation into all 31 police stations in the capital, according to the agency.
But the main targets are officers at four police stations in southern Seoul ― Gangnam, Seocho, Songpa and Suseo ― where there are many bars, clubs and other entertainment facilities.
The investigation team will collect information about corrupt ties and interrogate any officers under suspicion.
"I cannot forgive corruption. We will thoroughly investigate and strictly punish anyone involved," SMPA Commissioner Won Kyung-hwan told reporters, Monday. "We have been focusing our investigation on adult entertainment facilities in the Gangnam area."
He said some police officers have been questioned but none have been booked yet.
Last July, the Gangnam Police Station and Yeoksam precinct were in charge of investigating a case regarding the admission of minors to Burning Sun, but dropped the case about a month later, citing a lack of evidence, so that the club could avoid a business suspension.
It was later alleged that an individual surnamed Kang who was a board member of a cosmetics company and a former police officer functioned as a link between police and Burning Sun.
Kang is accused of receiving 20 million won from a co-owner of the nightclub and offering part of the money to police officers to cover up the incident. He has been questioned multiple times, but denies the allegations.
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