A large-scale Korean prostitution ring has been busted on charges of soliciting Japanese tourists on the southern resort island of Jeju, police said Monday.
The Jeju Provincial Police Agency said they arrested a brothel owner, only known by her surname Shin, and booked another owner surnamed Kim, for allegedly providing sex services to male Japanese tourists 550 times between 2007 and 2011, pocketing some 1.06 billion won ($1.04 million) in total.
Six brokers who run popular tourist sites such as bars and hotel casinos, as well as 19 female sex workers, were booked without physical detention, the police said.
The brokers allegedly introduced male Japanese tourists to brothel operators in exchange for 10,000 yen (US$127) for every customer they brought in.
The tourists payed 40,000 yen for services, police investigators said, adding that the pimps took 7,000 yen and another 23,0000 yen was given to the sex workers.
Jeju Island has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for Japanese tourists, with the number of visitors from Japan to the island hitting a record high in the first half of the year.
The police, following a tip-off, raided the brothels and secured proof such as receipts and bills for commission fees. (Yonhap)