Gangsters nabbed for illegal `game room` business

The Supreme Public Prosecutor¡¯s Office (SPPO) launched a crackdown over the weekend on gang members accused of using legitimate businesses as fronts for illegal activities, a spokesman said Sunday.

The spokesman for the SPPO's felony department said it arrested 19 leading gang members, including Lee Kang-Hwan, 57, head of Chilsong-pa group, the largest organized crime ring in Pusan.

He said the suspects were involved in graft and other illegal activities while using construction firms, entertainment spots and game rooms as fronts.

Those arrested are also suspected of attempting to foster their criminal organizations as legitimate enterprises, the spokesman said.

Lee of Chilsong-pa is suspected of extorting 200 million won in protection money from a Choi, owner of a nightclub in Onchon-dong, Tongnae-gu, Pusan. Lee took office last year as a vice chairman of J. Kunyoung, a raw ore producing and processing company and has had contacts with Japanese gangsters.

Choi Kwang-Hun, vice head of Kwangju PJ-pa group, operator of a popular entertainment spot, is suspected of evading 320 million won in taxes by deleting 1.4 billion won in sales from the books, the spokesman said.

The SPPO said 668 suspected gang members nationwide, who were said to be disguising themselves as legitimate businessmen, would be subject to a special investigation that would include their possible collusion with politicians or government officials.