Suspicion of 'Ji Gwi-yeon': A Room Salon Stops Operations After Removing Signboard

Located in an alley in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, an entertainment establishment A has removed its signboard and stopped its operations.

This establishment has been identified as the location depicted in photos released by the Democratic Party of Korea, related to the "room salon entertainment suspicion" involving Chief Judge Ji Gwi-yeon of the Seoul Central District Court, who is presiding over the trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of insurrection.

During a visit to the site on the morning of the 20th, I found that the entrance was tightly closed, and the signboard had disappeared.

Above the narrow entrance, only stickers and panels reading "No entry/employment for those under 19" and "Minors not allowed" remained. A small window on the door was covered with a film, preventing anyone from peering inside.

An employee from a nearby business, Mr. B, stated, "I passed by on my way to work last Friday (the 16th), and the original signboard was gone." He added, "It seems they removed it after a YouTuber came, and things got noisy afterward."

As of February of this year, a "Naver Map Road View" confirmed that a metal English sign had been installed above the door.

An Establishment Frequented by Luxury Cars and Drivers

Mr. B described this establishment as "a place where many cars with drivers used to come," noting that "most were luxury sedans and Carnival limousines." This testimony indirectly illustrates the upscale nature of the establishment and the social status of its visitors.

Despite inquiries from local merchants and nearby establishment employees, none reported witnessing the staff entering or exiting the premises. However, some noted that individuals appearing to be 'waiters' responsible for serving would often arrive around 6 PM, and they heard from colleagues working night shifts that women came to work in the late afternoon.

This establishment is registered as a Type 2 entertainment bar, referred to as a 'live café.' Unlike Type 1 entertainment establishments, which are room salons and may have hostesses, Type 2 establishments are characterized by the prohibition of employing hostesses.

The owner of establishment A was reported to have claimed in a recent interview with a media outlet that his business does not employ hostesses.

Meanwhile, the High-ranking Officials Crime Investigation Unit (SPO) announced on the 20th that they have assigned the investigation of a case in which civic groups, including the Judicial Justice Reform Civic Action Group (Sasehaeng), the Minjung Economics Research Institute, and the Candlelight Action Group, filed a complaint against Judge Ji for bribery and violations of the ban on solicitation to the 3rd Investigation Division (headed by Chief Prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan).

Image source: News1, on the 19th, the Democratic Party of Korea released photos related to the room salon entertainment suspicion involving Chief Judge Ji Gwi-yeon of the Seoul Central District Court, who is overseeing the trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of insurrection. / Democratic Party of Korea Election Committee for the Restoration of Constitutional Order and Ending the Insurrection.