Police have arrested three suspects on charges of detaining a middle school girl and forcing her into prostitution with 800 men including a college professor and a doctor. According to police, the suspects held Jeon, a 14-year-old middle school student, against her will in motels in Gwangju, South Jeolla province and forced her to prostitute herself. The suspects are charged with beating Jeon, who pleaded with them to let her go, once every two or three days and burning her hands with cigarettes.

Chonbuk Provincial Police Agency said some 800 men bought sex with the girl, including a public servant and professionals such as a college professor, a doctor and a pharmacist. The suspects allegedly posted articles that hinted at prostitution on chat forums to lure customers. Police said they forced Jeon to have sex with customers at least five times a day and took all her earnings amounting to some W120 million (US$1=W928). Jeon managed to run away to an uncle’s home in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province on May 22, taking advantage of her captors’ inattention. Police arrested the suspects when they went to Jeonju to recapture their victim. Police will request arrest warrants for 10 customers who knew Jeon had been detained and assaulted.

(englishnews@chosun.com )