Police say that an owner of an Internet site and an operator of a singing room
have recently been arrested for arranging "swapping sex" for as many as 70
couples. According to police reports, the men have been operating since January
2003, when they opened an Internet site to recruit customers.
The couples allegedly swap their spouses for sex in secluded singing rooms or
rural houses in Gyeonggi province. The couples range in age from 20 to 50, are
highly educated, and have well-paying professional jobs. The police say the
couples appear to be normal.
In one case cited, four couples gathered in a singing room in Seocho-dong in
Seochop-gu in early October, drinking and singing all together at an hourly
rate of 150,000 won. Once mildly drunk, the couples moved to the next room
where they had promiscuous "swap sex."
The singing room owner reportedly collected ID cards or wedding photos from his
customers as proof of their marital status. The 36-year old man was identified
by only his last name Lee. Mr. Lee allegedly lent his singing rooms for the
swap customers after the owner of an Internet site recruited couples who
desired to swap partners.
The Internet site owner, also known only by his last name Lee, is 36 years old
as well. Both men were arrested on charges of arranging "direct exchange of
spouses for sexual orgies."
Police say when they confronted the couples swapping their spouses; the couples
threatened them with lawsuits. The couples strongly protested saying "why the
hell are you infringing upon my private life?"
In another incident, during the late hours of October 4, an Internet site threw
a "lingerie mask party" in a posh bar in the Gangnam area. Some 20 masked
couples wearing only scanty inner wear enjoyed a wild party that lasted until
the next morning.
The male participants, in their 30s and 40s, were mostly well-to-do
professionals including medical doctors and business owners. The female
party-goers, according to police, were mostly beautiful and included several
models.
Police estimate that there are about 500 couples enjoying "swapping sex" in the
Seoul area alone. Nationally, some 6,000 couples trade their husbands or wives
for sexual pleasure.
Busan and Daegu are the areas where "swapping" is most active around the country, but the number of couples bartering their spouses as sex partners is likely to increase even faster as the nation continues on its path to modernization. Experts say this trend is spreading like wild fire particularly among urban people in the high-income bracket.
