Kim Tae Hyung, 48, and Cha Jin Young, 50, face charges of “procuring prostitution” and “giving bribes”.
Also facing prosecution are Bui Thi Phuong Dung, 36, and Bui Duy Ha, 41, who are charged with “fraudulent appropriation of property” for allegedly scamming the restaurant owners by promising police protection. Three other individuals have been charged with assisting in procuring prostitution.
The South Korean suspects and their accomplices pictured at the time of their arrest in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by Read/Nhat Vy |
According to the indictment, Kim and Cha opened a restaurant on Bui Thi Xuan Street in HCMC downtown in November 2022.
The venue, which catered exclusively to foreign customers, primarily South Koreans, operated 30 unlicensed karaoke rooms. It employed approximately 80 female hostesses and 20 service staff, protected by a network of lookouts communicating via walkie-talkies.
To boost revenue, the owners allegedly instructed their managers, Vietnamese national Nguyen Thi Ngoc Loan and South Korean national Lee Hyun Jun, to arrange sex services for diners.
The illicit transactions were disguised on customer bills using code names. Prostitution fees were listed as “green jacket 17,” charged at VND3.8 million (US$144) per person, while hotel room rentals were billed as a “large seafood combo” at VND1 million.
The operation was dismantled on July 19, 2023, after police caught two hostesses engaging in prostitution with South Korean clients at a hotel. The rooms had allegedly been booked by Le Tan Thanh, 44, who knowingly facilitated the illegal activity.
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The Gallery restaurant seen from outside in HCMC. Photo by police |
The investigation also uncovered a failed bribery plot.
Admitting that the restaurant lacked necessary operating permits, Cha allegedly sought help from Dung, a Vietnamese woman married to a South Korean national, to “take care of” potential legal issues.
Dung and her accomplice, Ha, allegedly falsely claimed they had connections to prevent police inspections. Trusting them, Kim and Cha paid a total of VND840 million on multiple occasions to bribe officials.
Dung and Ha told investigators they used the funds to bribe officers within the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department. However, investigators concluded that the pair had no ability to influence officials and had simply misappropriated the entire sum for themselves.
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