Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MA_TESOL]

I was in a bar (not a juicy bar) in Itaewan and saw the owner slip an envelope that looked like it was packed with won, to some Korean genlemen. Makes me think that it was protection money. Maybe I have too much of an imagination. Not sure I want to frequent bars that have a relationship with the Korean mafia

[Hobophobic]

[egrog1717]

LOL... Does Korea even have a Mafia?

I just have visions of a bunch of Ajossi sitting around drinking Soju talking about other times they sat around and drank Soju...

In fact... From hence forth I shall call them the "Sojuafia!"

[chevro1et]

Oh, there most certainly are Korean gangsters/ mafia. Been at few places where they have made their presence felt. They had absolutely no interest in me, but they were definitely 'conducting business' with some other individuals there.

[Ultimo Hombre]

There is a group of street vendors around Sinchon that have a sign posted on their stands when they are closed calling the cops out because some organized criminals are extorting them out of their livelihoods and the cops fail to do anything as usual.

They exist.

[Louie]

The "Chopok" own or 'protect' more than half of the Korean owned and operated bars and clubs in Itaewon.

.....after a night of heavy partying one time, me and some friends ended up at the Manhattan restuarant across the street from Club Rio. We were seated near a bunch of tables put together where a gaggle of Russian chicks were seated. Evidently they were brought into Korea to work as "entertainers" in the area Korean clubs.
I remember hearing several strongly protesting what they got themselves into and some tall guys came and took them by their arms away from the table.
There was a story a long time back about an ex-Navy guy who taught in Korea who 'disappeared' because he owed the Chopok money......

[Unposter]

I have been told by a few Koreans, and you can take that for whatever it is worth, that the entire liquor trade is controlled by the mafa. As for individual bars in Itaewon, your guess is as good as mine.

And, yes, there most certainly are Korean gangs and organized crime elements.

[HijackedTwilight]

The Korean mob doesn't get press like the Yakuza, or the ethnic mobs back home, but that's probably how they like it. Their fingers are in many bean cakes. They even take a piece from the old blind beggars drifting through subway cars playing Church music recordings.

[cdninkorea]

Some of my students, among them a few police officers, told me that there are loan sharks in Myeong-dong. If a man doesn't pay their loan, they're sent to work off their debt on a fishing boat, and a woman is sold into prostitution. That sounds like gangster activity to me.

[crescent]

this was an entertaining thread on the subject.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=96276&highlight=

[wylies99]

I've heard that the Korean mafia is involved with gambling. Bars? Probably.

[The Great Toad]

[i4NI]

Someone in another thread awhile back said there was Yakuza presence in Myoungdong. I don't know if I believe it, but I wish he woulda went more into detail.

[crazy_arcade]

They definitely do exist.

My girlfriend's high school friend's dad is at the top of the Anyang branch.
Her boyfriend is also a gangster...I've met him and he just minds his business. However, if anyone ever gets in the way of his business...the thugs get called out hardcore.

Prostitution, night clubs, gambling, meth, loan sharking...that's what gangsters here are into. I've never heard about people being made to work on fishing boats...but I have heard of hooker island.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]