Trapped Until Passing Out... Busan Nightlife District 'Rattled' by Fake Liquor Scam and Brutal Abuse

[Anchor]

A large group of suspects has been arrested for serving fake whiskey to intoxicated patrons and inflating their bar tabs. They raked in 3.5 billion won through the scheme, which came to light after an internal gang member reported them.

KNN reporter Ok Min-ji has the story.

[Reporter]

Black tea drink is poured into a whiskey bottle that still has some alcohol left.

Other liquids presumed to be leftover whiskey are also added, and once the bottle is full, the outside is wiped clean.

Then, the cap is sealed as if it were brand new.

This is how a gang in their 30s, led by a masterminding ringleader referred to as A, produced the fake whiskey they sold.


Operating five entertainment bars around the Seomyeon area in Busan, they lured in drunk customers and sold them the fake liquor.

When customers fell asleep from intoxication, they secretly withdrew heavily inflated bar tabs using credit card PINs they had acquired in advance.

It is estimated that they pocketed around 3.5 billion won this way, with victims numbering over 1,000.

The crimes, which continued for about two years, were uncovered after a gang member who could no longer endure the brutal abuse reported them.

Three floor managers, including one with a background in organized crime, controlled lower-level members according to a strict set of rules.

Those who failed to meet their daily quotas or attempted to flee were locked in a high-temperature sauna until they passed out,

[Endure it.]

or forced to keep running on a treadmill.

[Run more. Faster, faster!]

They were even coerced into self-harm, such as striking their own fingers with a hammer.

[Lee Seung-joo / Busan Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit: Since entertainment establishments operate until early morning, if they failed to meet their quota by morning, they would immediately drag them away and force them to exercise like that at a fitness center.]

Police arrested 61 members of the ring and detained the ringleader A, while placing an Interpol red notice on two others who fled abroad, including a co-leader and a floor manager with an organized crime background.

(Reported by Jeon Jae-hyun from KNN | Video provided by Busan Police Agency)

Ok Min-ji, KNN
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.