Employees of New York Korean entertainment businesses, such as bars, discos, dance halls, room salons, etc. are victims of unexplained deaths, disappearances, kidnapping, and violence.

The New York City Police Department is currently investigating the case of Mi-kyoung (Jae-won) Lee, 22, who disappeared on June 12th. The Asian Criminal Investigation office concluded that Ms. Lee did not disappear voluntarily, but was the victim of a crime. She was either kidnapped or murdered.

Another case is that of Ms. Jee-hee Chang, 26, who died in a car crash on a highway in Virginia on June 1st, while in the process of moving her entertainment business from New York to California. A truck ran into her vehicle, killing her. Ms. Chang’s death is being investigated by the New York City’s Asian Criminal Investigation Unit which is working with local authorities on the case.

In addition to these two cases, the NYPD is investigating the case of a female employee of a “room salon” (brothel) who was attacked outside of her home by an unknown Korean assailant as she returned home early one June morning. He dragged her into her house and beat her.

In another case, police finally arrested a Korean taxi driver in May. For several weeks he robbed his “room salon” passengers. He would first attempt to rape his female passengers, each time unsuccessfully. Then he would steal their cash.

Another Korean man was arrested in New Jersey for criminal activities. He extorted high interest on a small loan to a room salon employee in Queens. He kidnapped her and attempted to sell her to an out-of-state prostitution ring.

A Korean entertainment business was robbed by two Hispanic men, who also stabbed a waiter. The police arrested them.

Many Korean entertainment business employees were targeted in terrible crimes this year.

Detective Shim, of the Asian Criminal Investigation Unit, said, “Most of the employees in these entertainment businesses are in America either illegally, or on tourist visas. Even though they have been the victims of crimes many of them do not report the cases to the police, and thus are continued targets of criminal activity. These cases occur more frequently than we imagine. We are faced with the added difficulty of reports being filed long after the incident has occurred. This makes our work and investigation more difficult.”

Employees of such Korean entertainment businesses also seem to be crime targets because many were smuggled into the country. Criminals who helped them enter the country illegally then extort more from them. The police cannot easily crack these cases. Investigations take a long time, especially since victims often refuse to make statements, and witness testimony is rare.

Ms. Regina Kim, the Korean Family Counseling Center director, said, “After the IMF bailout of Korea, many Korean women suddenly came to New York seeking employment in Korean entertainment businesses. Not only are they suffering as victims of crimes, but they are also suffering psychologically. They are in a vicious circle and there are no clear plans to help them despite the rash of crimes against them.”