Investigators said the suspects collaborated with a 43-year-old man, identified
as Chung, who is a key figure in an organized crime ring.
Police said the three originally got local authority permission to operate the
premises as a restaurant but converted it to an illegal sex bar.
While one of the three admitted arranging sex with some 30 employees, another
denies the sex trade allegations, police said.
According to police, the three have ran the luxurious premises which were
equipped with a night club, a room salon, a karaoke room and a hostess bar.
They shared about 40-50 percent of the prostitution profits with Chung.
Allegedly, 10 celebrities were frequent customers.
Also, police plan to request arrest warrants for four entertainers caught for
smoking cannabis.
Police are investigating three 26-year-old singers, Ha, Ko, and Kim, a
32-year-old actress, identified as Chang - who voluntarily appeared at the
police station - and a 26-year-old man, identified as Park, Ha¡¦s friend.
According to police, five entertainers, including Ko and Ha, allegedly smoked
marijuana together at Ha¡¦s house, beginning Oct. 15 last year.
Police said Ha inhaled cannabis 10 times, while Ko and Kim smoked it seven
times.
Park has smoked the drug four times while Chang inhaled marijuana once.
Ko initially told police she had tried the drug only once, out of curiosity,
but later confessed to smoking it on seven occasions, according to police.
Police will also seek warrants four entertainers who allegedly smoked the drug
on more than three ocassions.
The Korea Times
