Police indict sex tourists over frequent drug trips

Seven Korean men, including a doctor and the son of a former member of the National Assembly, were indicted by police yesterday for allegedly taking illegal drugs repeatedly while on sex trips to China.
Under Korean law, Korean police retain jurisdiction over any crimes committed by its citizens while traveling overseas.
Seoul’s Mapo police are requesting arrest warrants for all seven and have put the alleged broker for the trips, identified as Mr. Shin, on their wanted list. Mr. Shin allegedly provided sex and drug getaways to wealthy Koreans.
Police said the men were caught because of a three-month cooperative operation with the National Intelligence Service.
According to the police, upon arrival in Shanghai on Jan. 14 on their last trip, the men went to a drinking club and took ecstasy and methamphetamine, and then proceeded to have sexual intercourse with the female employees. Since last April, each has gone to China five to ten times on similar escapades.
Based on the investigation, the men usually went during the weekends, with the excuse of “looking at real estate to invest in,” while going to Qingdao or Shanghai to use drugs and hire prostitutes.
The National Intelligence Service’s International Crime Division reported that recently in China and eastern Asia, cases where drug-related gangs approach Korean brokers to set them up with Korean tourists have been increasing.

by Chun In-sung