By Via a reader tip comes news that the recent ban on a number of Osan juicy girl bars has been lifted:
Officials here have lifted a ban on eight local bars after the owners promised to keep them free of prostitution, underage drinking and other unsafe or illegal conditions, the Air Force said Tuesday.
Osan’s 51st Fighter Wing commander Col. Thomas H. Deale lifted the ban Monday after the owners spelled out in writing the things they’d do to keep the bars free of crime and violence, said wing spokeswoman 1st Lt. Malinda C. Singleton.
“They said that they’re really going to work to police themselves,” she said.
The affected bars are the Stardust, Young Chon, Eagles and Golden Gate clubs, and the Chicago Club, Blood Club, Club Sting, and UN Club.
Deale had put the eight off-limits after Air Force police allegedly turned up evidence of “bar fining.”
Bar fining is a practice in which a patron pays the club to allow a bar girl to leave the premises for an agreed-upon period. Authorities say bar fining is typically a symptom of prostitution.
In two letters sent to Osan’s Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board, the owners promised “to ensure that their entertainment environment does not support illegal activities,” Singleton said. Osan officials would not release copies of the letters to Stars and Stripes.
The owners said they’ll move to avert bar fining, barroom violence and underage drinking, Singleton said.
In addition, she said, the owners will post signs in their clubs “letting U.S. personnel know that bar fining is not allowed.” [Stars & Stripes]
I guess we will see how long this lasts.
10:12 am on February 18th, 2009 1
I like the name “Juicy Girl Bars”. I think it could work in America.
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10:36 am on February 18th, 2009 2
Somehow the copy for Stars & Stripes and the Onion got mixed up, right? This is satire, is it not?
Let’s look.
“Officials here have lifted a ban on eight local bars after the owners promised to keep them free of prostitution, underage drinking and other unsafe or illegal conditions”
Is that an echo from 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 or 2001? Is the institutional memory really that short?
“They said that they’re really going to work to police themselves,” she (wing spokeswoman 1st Lt. Malinda C. Singleton) said.
It doesn’t really seem like a resounding victory over illegality and immorality when the best you can claim is that they “said” they will “work” to police themselves. This is even more true when “they” means “foxes” and “themselves” means “hen houses”. The only remaining question is if “USFK” means “sucker” or “conspirator”.
“In two letters sent to Osan’s Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board, the owners promised “to ensure that their entertainment environment does not support illegal activities,” Singleton said.
“Illegal activities” like human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation? Or were they talking about something else like making sure nobody under Korea’s drinking age of 19 has a beer?
“Osan officials would not release copies of the letters to Stars and Stripes.”
Good move, Osan. Pimps and human traffickers hate nothing more than secrecy and suppression of attention. That’ll fix ‘em. And keep building our confidence in your commitment against illegal and immoral practices, USFK, through tough actions against these criminals based on consistent policies in an open and transparent environment.
“In addition, she said, the owners will post signs in their clubs “letting U.S. personnel know that bar fining is not allowed.”"
Because nothing deters an airman on a payday drunk with a wad of cash and a raging boner better than a sternly-worded sign predominately displayed next to “please wash hands after using the facilities”.
The poor U.S. personnel had no idea. If only there was some sort of USFK-sponsored briefing or training to let everyone know this was the official policy.
Now if they can just work at putting “two man lift” on the fat juicy’s shirt.
“Owners or their representatives had also held three meetings with the control board.”
This helps to understand the special situation. Is it an explanation or a negotiation?
“And they had help from Pyeongtaek city hall and the Korean National Police in finding a way to resolve the ban, Singleton said.”
That gets more expensive. The police have a great way to help paying club owners, though. It goes like this. “Hey, USFK, you want big crackdown on prostitution? OK, we help. We never notice no prostitution before. We look extra hard to help you. Next time we see GI with prostitute, we help with your crackdown. Make number one big media show. Ohhhh, now you want to put club back on-limits because of big misunderstanding and you don’t see no prostitution no more? We see you special situation. We think nevermind, too. Have nice day until next year.”
“The off-limits ban had forced the Young Chon to close for three weeks starting Jan. 22, said Yi.”
Waaaaait a minute. Didn’t this off-limits suspiciously coincide with some sort of exercise with restrictions on drinking and going downtown.
There weren’t any inspectors of any sort from out-of-town during this time were there?
This is starting to sound more like another annual episode of Crackdown Theater where even the old-timers who know better take it seriously and say, “but this time it looks like it’s for real”. But it’s not.
A lone gunman killed Kennedy and a jet hit the Pentagon but this whole off-limits/on-limits thing being entirely on the level is a lot more suspect.
Am I the only one who feels this way?
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February 20th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Amazed at the amount of misinformation out there … this is not business “as usual,” there were no “base inpsections” that this was a show for, this is not about undercover military stings against Korean businesses … no, it’s about the Wing Commander having the obligation to put bars “off-limits” that do not provide a safe and legal environment for our military members.
The issue was that approximately 19 bars were exposed, during investigations of military members, as allowing, profiting, and encouraging bar fining (along with allegations of prostitution and human trafficking). The eight with the most evidence of a continued bar firing practice were immediately placed off-limits. The other 11 – along with the original 8 – were given the opportunity to meet before the Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board (a board that makes recommendations to the Wing Commander re: whether an establishment is adverse to the safety, morale, and good order and discipline of military members) to present their case for how they would ensure a safe and legal environment for military members. The goal of the board, and the Wing Commander, is not to punish … but instead to put establishments off-limits until they can demonstrate to the Wing Commander’s satisfaction that they there establishment will obey the law and will provide a safe environment for our service members.
USFK Regs specifically prohibit military members from bar fining employees and buying out employee contracts. This is not “illegal” under Korean law, but is illegal for military members. The establishments have known for some time these rules and that they must abide by them to get the patronage of military members. Otherwise, their establishment will be placed “off-limits” to military members. The reason it is “illegal” for military members is the recognition that bar fining is the mechanism that enables prostitution and human trafficking in this area. With many problems, it is necessary to treat the symptoms to get to the cure. The military does not do “sting” operations against local businesses … though they can certainly investigate military members that are violating the law. Enforcement of korean law (and sting operations) must be performed by the Korean National Police and other local law enforcement. Considering this limitation, it allows the military to address this problem through it’s own military members conduct (bar fining). To fully address the issue, of course, it will also require active enforcement from the ROK.
In this case, the local bar association requested to respond to all the allegations as one entity rather than each of the 19 bars providing a separate plan (18 of the 19 bars are members of the bar association). The bar association submitted a plan where they would police their own members to ensure compliance with both USFK regs and Korean law. They also understand that they will be held accountable, as a group, if their plan fails. If a bar has previously been engaged in this activity, and this plan proves ineffective in stopping bar fining, prosecution, et. al., the Wing Commander will readdress the appropriateness of placing each of these 19 bars off-limits. The bar association must effectively handle the situation themselves, or any confidence in their “plan” will fade quickly. In other words, each of the 19 has a stake in making sure this works.
Even more importantly, the city was very involved in answering concerns. They intend to be actively involved in law enforcement and inspecting employee working conditions for evidence of human trafficking.
Their are many establishments that have chosen not to utilize bar fining, prostitution, and human trafficking to run their business. For the ones that have not yet made that commitment to change, this is their opportunity. If they continue to rely on bar fining, prostitution, and/or human trafficking to make money, their days of benefiting from the patronage of military members will be over.
The Songtan area is already much different than it was a mere 10 years ago. This is another step in the right direction of expecting establishments that rely on military money to survive to conform not only to the laws of Korea on prostitution and human trafficking … but to take an aggressive stance to eliminate the conditions that allows these things to occur.
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February 21st, 2009 at 1:55 am
Wow, Yo yo? The same post in two different threads? What are you, the 8th FW PAO? Is this much damage control necessary?
Are the pissed off bar owners leaving their divits uncovered on the links?
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February 24th, 2009 at 5:30 am
Oddly enough … much more discussion on the first related thread asking whether it was the End of Osan’s Juicy Girl Bars.
Not sure where most people would be looking … hence the double post the first time.
More info & discussion there …
2:20 pm on February 18th, 2009 3
This is all pretty stupid.
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4:46 pm on February 18th, 2009 4
“Do you think the Osan bar owners will now stop soliciting prostitutes?”
I lol’d hard for about 20 minutes.
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6:16 pm on February 18th, 2009 5
Were they still allowed to access the installation and play golf while the clubs were off limits?
I call bullshit.
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8:57 pm on February 18th, 2009 6
I have been to some bars in Songtan. They are really nice places and you find fine people there. An american soldier paid me a beer without knowing me. Very good guy. I have some cousins running business in Shinjang mall. Maybe I will be there this year again.
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5:57 am on February 19th, 2009 7
When the KNP crack down everything goes down under. The same will happen here,,,it already has. I love it
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6:03 am on February 19th, 2009 8
“Osan officials would not release copies of the letters to Stars and Stripes.”
I miss Lt Davis – at least he was always honest in his illegal activities. It must have been that Citadel instilled integrity.
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8:34 am on February 19th, 2009 9
“Bar fining is a practice in which a patron pays the club to allow a bar girl to leave the premises for an agreed-upon period. Authorities say bar fining is typically a symptom of prostitution.”
USFK may want to equate bar fining with prostitution, but as I know, paying for a girl’s early work release from a bar is not considered a crime in Korea.
Good luck trying to get the KNP to enforce USFK presumptions.
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11:21 am on February 19th, 2009 10
I remember when a “bar fine was $20.00 for a “short-time”, and the woman was Korean.
Ahh—good times!
I hear it is much higher now, and the females are Philippino.
Sadness overcomes me for the “ville rat” of today.
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February 24th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Well Korea got an economy and is now kinda rich (in comparison). Korean prostitutes are very expensive, and very picky with their clients. The owners of bars who mainly service foreigners (military) pick up the cheapest “talent” they can find, which is usually the Philippina’s and Russians. And that is where we get into possible human trafficking. But honestly, the whole HT part kinda makes me wonder. Now adays the girls just need to go to the embassy and / or KNP and they’ll be sent back to their home country free of charge (via deportation). Don’t need papers or anything, just show up and say they were illegally brought into the country and want to return home. The fact that most choose to stay means they can’t be here unwillingly.
And yes, as hard as it may be for some people to imagine it, military authority ends the moment you leave that gate. The UCMJ applies onto to service members, and therefor can not be forced upon GS / contractor / english-teacher / average Korean Joe at a bar. The US military has no business policing the bars or trying to force the bar owners to do a damn thing. If you want to keep soldiers out of the bars, then make them off limits, end of story. Only problem with that is the sheer number of bars / establishments in the area PAST the ville (not to mention Korea as a whole). Only idiots spend all their time in “the ville” outside a base, better times are to be had inside the city at the korean establishments.
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February 24th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Could not agree with you more. I had my ville time. I also had my culture tours. Both were fun.
I always felt that if you wanted a Philippina, you should go to the Factory. Not Korea. Angeles City is nice this time of year.
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February 24th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
So I hear. Friends of mine planning on taking me down there in a few months, always wanted to see the Philippines. And yes the girls brought in over here usually are the ones who are either A) married with kids, or B) unable to get a job in the Philippines. People seem to forget that their country of origin supports Prostitution to a far greater length then Korea does.
7:32 am on February 24th, 2009 11
Ahh, this is where the conspiracy, x-files fans go when they can’t take the heat in other threads….
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February 25th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Do you want to believe? Hang around a golf course on any military installation. It’s a who’s-who of scum bags.
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8:21 am on February 25th, 2009 12
@ theotherguy
I’ll be there on the 6th march for a while. Hotels go for around 50.00 USD to double that for the really nice ones. Lady drinks are about 2.00 USD. Check out the “Hash” runs and ultra-light flights over the lahar flows. Red Horse is good stuff also.
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12:31 am on July 27th, 2009 13
Guys, the smackdown at Osan is coming soon!
GI, how do I email you? I need to send you an update on this situation. Thanks.
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July 27th, 2009 at 6:10 am
See my About page.
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8:26 am on July 27th, 2009 14
By all means share, don’t tease…
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