Scandals uncover dark side of Seoul's fancy club district

SEOUL - On a recent weekend night, the dance floor at one of the hottest clubs in Seoul's swanky Gangnam district held only a few dozen people surrounded by mostly empty tables.

A few months ago, the nightclub would have been packed with hundreds of gyrating men and women, and full tables, many costing 650,000 won ($570) or more for a night of drinking and dancing.

The world was introduced to Gangnam by the 2012 K-pop hit Gangnam Style, a parody of the South Korean high life with a viral tune and amusing dancing that became the first video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube.

But a wave of sex crimes and other illegal activity has revealed a dark underbelly in the district, driving clubgoers and celebrities away.

According to police investigators, a network of pop stars, businessmen and cops are alleged to have colluded and enabled tax evasion, bribery, and prostitution at some of Gangnam's glitziest clubs.

Most seriously, some are being investigated over the use of date rape drugs to incapacitate women and assault them, sometimes filmed by hidden cameras.

The scandals have already led to the resignation of four K-pop stars, the closure of one of Gangnam's most lucrative club, and investigations into at least six police officers suspected of colluding with club operators.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for a thorough investigation, saying the Gangnam club cases suggest possible collusion between police, tax authorities and a new privileged class including celebrities to engage in illegal operations.

"If we don't set this right, we cannot call this a just society," Moon said.

More than 500 people have been investigated for drug use and sexual assault and more than 200 arrested in a nationwide roundup since Feb 25.

Tax authorities have launched investigations into 21 clubs and host bars for possible evasion.

The investigations, revolving around two Gangnam clubs, Burning Sun and Arena, began late last year when 29-year-old film art director Kim Sang-kyo said he tried to stop an incident of sexual harassment and was attacked by Burning Sun staff, and then abused by police who instead arrested him.

A government commission concluded that police in Gangnam violated Kim's rights during his arrest, but Kim is still being investigated for sexual harassment and defamation. He denies any wrongdoing.

The string of scandals gained wider attention when several K-pop stars who had ties to some of the clubs were implicated in crimes unrelated to Kim's arrest.

Singer Lee Seung-hyun, 28, better known by the stage name Seungri, is under investigation for paying for prostitutes in return for favors from foreign businessmen at Arena.

He is also accused of embezzlement at another club he was involved with until last year.

Lee has denied all wrong doing, but resigned from his position as a member of the boy band Big Bang. Lee's lawyer told Reuters this week his client maintains his innocence.

Authorities are also investigating allegations that club officials provided bribes to police officers.

Reuters

(China Daily 04/15/2019 page11)