Locked Up Until They Passed Out: Busan's Nightlife Scene Up in Arms Over Brutal Gang Extortion

[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 these scams, which ultimately came to light after an insider reported them to the authorities.

KNN reporter MINJI has the details.

[Reporter]

Black tea is poured into a partially finished bottle of whiskey.

Other liquids, presumed to be leftover whiskey, are added as well. Once the bottle is full, the outside is wiped clean.

The cap is then sealed to make it look brand new.

This footage shows the production of counterfeit whiskey by a gang led by a ringleader in his 30s, identified as A.


Operating five entertainment bars around the Seomyeon area in Busan, the group lured intoxicated customers and sold them counterfeit whiskey.

When customers fell asleep from heavy drinking, the suspects secretly withdrew inflated bar tabs using card PIN numbers they had previously acquired.

The total amount stolen this way is estimated at around 3.5 billion won, with victims numbering approximately 1,000.

The criminal operation, which lasted for over two years, was exposed after a gang member, unable to endure the brutal abuse any longer, filed a report.

Three managers, including one former organized crime member, controlled lower-level members using a strict set of rules.

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

[Bear it.]

and forced to run continuously on a treadmill.

[Run more. More, more!]

They were even coerced into self-harm, such as using a hammer to strike their own fingers.

[SEUNGJOO / Busan Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit: Since entertainment establishments operate until early in the morning, if they fail to meet their quota by the morning, they are immediately taken away and forced to exercise in a gym like that.]

Police have apprehended 61 members of the ring and detained ringleader A. Meanwhile, they have requested Interpol red notices for two other suspects who fled overseas, including a co-ringleader and a manager with a background in organized crime.

(Video by Jeon Jae-hyun / KNN, Footage provided by Busan Metropolitan Police Agency)

MINJI, KNN
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.