Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Thailand News and Discussion Forum | ASEANNOW

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Two South Koreans Charged in Ho Chi Minh City Prostitution Case

Featured Replies

1292970381571899513-1765686061-7460-6325-1765784012.webp

Photo courtesy of VN Express

 

Two South Korean nationals, Kim Tae Hyung and Cha Jin Young, will stand trial in Ho Chi Minh City this month. They face charges related to operating a restaurant that allegedly functioned as a front for a prostitution ring targeting foreign clients. Alongside them, local accomplices Bui Thi Phuong Dung and Bui Duy Ha are accused of fraudulent appropriation of funds for purportedly promising police protection against inspections.

 

The restaurant, opened in November 2022 on Bui Thi Xuan Street, served primarily South Korean patrons and operated 30 unlicensed karaoke rooms with about 80 hostesses. The management reportedly coordinated illicit activities using covert communication methods and coded customer bills. The operation was unmasked on July 19, 2023, when authorities apprehended two hostesses engaging in prostitution with clients at a nearby hotel.

 

Kim and Cha also face charges of attempting to bribe local officials. After failing to secure operating permits legally, Cha allegedly reached out to Dung, who claimed she could shield them from legal scrutiny using her supposed connections. Kim and Cha reportedly paid VND840 million in bribes based on these assurances, which were later revealed to be fraudulent as Dung and Ha had no real influence with the police.

 

The bust cut short an operation that seemingly relied on exploiting both foreign clientele and a network of accomplices to evade legal repercussions. Experts suggest that such organized schemes reflect ongoing challenges in combating illegal services masked by legitimate business fronts in the region.

 

The upcoming trial will address not only the prostitution charges but also the attempted corruption, showcasing the complex interplay of illegal activities and fraudulent practices. The case underscores a broader issue of regulatory enforcement and the extent to which such operations can flourish under the guise of legitimate establishments, reported VN Express.

 

Key Takeaways

  • Two South Korean nationals face trial for running a prostitution ring in HCMC.
  • Accomplices allegedly scammed them with the promise of police protection.
  • Trial highlights issues in regulatory enforcement and combatting illicit services.

 

Related Stories

Ex-Flight Attendant Jailed for Prostitution Ring in Vietnam

Thai Women Freed from Myanmar Forced Prostitution Hell

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-12-16

 

 

image.png

 

image.png

Create an account or sign in to comment

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.