On 27/1, Hwang Chang Nam, 45, a Korean national, was sentenced by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court to 5 years in prison; Jung Jong Pil, 55, received 4 years. Both were convicted of prostitution brokerage.

Three other accomplices were sentenced to between three years and three years 6 months in prison.

Hwang Chang Nam and his accomplices in court today. *Binh Nguyen*

According to the case file, Chang Nam entered Vietnam in 2003 and began business operations in Ho Chi Minh City. By 7/2023, he acquired a karaoke bar on Nguyen Thai Binh Street, Saigon Ward.

To attract customers for dining and karaoke, Chang Nam decided to allow female hostesses to sell sex if customers requested it. He then instructed Jung Jong Pil, the bar manager, to create social media pages to promote the services and directly respond to and advise customers on prostitution activities.

The bar's rules stipulated that hostesses had to report their names at the reception desk daily upon starting work. Those willing to sell sex were given red wristbands, and their names were circled on the roster. Nguyen Hong Nhung and Tran Tan Trung were responsible for managing shifts, receiving customer requests, and presenting hostesses for selection.

The price for sex was negotiated between the hostess and the customer, but the Korean manager typically suggested 2,3 million VND for a "short-term service" or 3,8 million VND for an overnight stay.

In the early hours of 30/12/2023, Ho Chi Minh City Police raided a hotel in District 1 and an apartment in District 7 (former), discovering three couples engaging in prostitution. Upon verification, authorities confirmed that the women selling sex were all employees of the karaoke bar owned by Chang Nam.

Based on statements from managers and hostesses, and seized records, police determined that the Korean owner had directed the recruitment of nearly 200 young, attractive female employees, organizing nude dancing and prostitution to serve Korean customers. The bar would arrange luxury cars to pick them up for dining and entertainment, then transport them to hotels and high-end apartments for "enjoyable times" with the women.

In court today, Chang Nam and all defendants admitted their actions. Chang Nam claimed that due to his limited understanding of Vietnamese law, he was unaware his actions constituted a crime. He also stated that he did not directly profit from the prostitution brokerage, but merely aimed to attract customers to the bar.

Similarly, the other defendants also stated they only received monthly salaries and did not profit from the prostitution brokerage.