Japan-Korea prostitution ring employing models busted

TOKYO (TR) – Police in Korea on Wednesday announced the bust of a high-end prostitution ring that delivered women to Japan, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Aug. 21).

Officers from the international crime division of the National Police Agency in Busan filed charges against five male and female suspects for acting as brokers in human trafficking. Another 47 women were charged with prostitution.

Beginning in February of last year, a 32-year-old female suspect is alleged to have dispatched prostitutes to Tokyo hotels and residences from the Uguisudani area of Taito Ward.

In order to attract customers, semi-nude photos of the women were posted on the Internet.

A 55-year-old broker is alleged to have received between 80,000 and 120,000 yen from the aforementioned female suspect for each prostitute supplied to the ring. The women were obtained from within the adult-entertainment industry in the Korean cities of Busan and Seoul.

According to the Chuo Nippo (Aug. 22), the roster of prostitutes included models, former celebrities, exchange students, housewives, government workers, athletes and race queens. The women were lured to Japan by high wages, reportedly promised to be between 1.8 million and 2.7 million yen each month.

Some women were unable to pay back high-interest loans issued for living expenses. One such woman was subsequently sold to another broker in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.