Police Arrest Gift Coupon Peddlers

Police have exposed five companies that allegedly issued 400 billion won worth of gift coupon certificates.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police’s investigation team raided the headquarters of five companies for illegally issuing and distributing some 80 million coupons or undesignated gift certificates (in breach of the law on music, video and games) and sought arrest warrants for Lee, 45, a representative of T company and Woo, 47, representative of L company on Sep. 21.

The police arrested representatives of the rest of the companies, including Shin of Y company, and 13 printers, and game room owners who bought the gift coupons, without detention.

According to the police, the heads of five companies including Lee opened offices in Yeongdeungpo, Jongro in Seoul and Chungju in Chungbuk Province, respectively, and reportedly issued 400 billion won worth of gift coupons and distributed them around some 100 adult game rooms nationwide.

imsun@donga.com