Gangnam police refer eight people to prosecutors in suspected prostitution case

Gangnam Police Station referred eight people to prosecutors without detention on October 20 in a suspected prostitution case involving apartments in Seoul’s Gangnam district, The Korea Herald reported. Police say the larger of two businesses arranged more than 2,800 transactions over 44 days and generated at least 574 million won ($434,000). The figures are police allegations, not court findings.

The Korea Herald identified those referred as three business operators, a manager, two women and two men suspected of involvement in prostitution. Yonhap News Agency, which reported the police announcement on October 19, described the eight as three operators, an accomplice, two workers and two suspected purchasers. The reports differ in how they describe one person’s role.

How police say the Gangnam businesses operated

Prospective customers were required to verify their identities with mobile phones registered in their own names, The Korea Herald reported. Operators then checked them against a database shared among similar businesses to identify people they considered suspicious. Police allege the three operators arranged prostitution for commercial gain, an offense carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in prison or a fine of 70 million won.

Yonhap reported that police estimated the larger business generated 574.6 million won over roughly 40 days, describing the same police findings in rounded terms. It also reported that police seized about 25 million won in suspected criminal proceeds. Neither the alleged revenue nor the seized amount establishes what a court will find.

Investigation began after a November 2025 report

Police began investigating after receiving a report in November 2025, The Korea Herald said. Investigators used call-record analysis, surveillance footage and undercover surveillance to identify the operators and others suspected of involvement. Police said they plan to investigate additional suspected participants using evidence gathered in the case.

The appointment count and proceeds for the second business remain unclear. The Korea Herald reported that suspects allegedly destroyed evidence, limiting investigators’ ability to determine its scale. The eight referrals leave the allegations for prosecutors to assess; neither report establishes a conviction.