W17m booze tab: Itaewon bars face probe over foreign tourist ripoff

By Kim Min-joo

Published : Sept. 21, 2017 - 17:16

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A promise of a fun night out at a bar in Itaewon left an American tourist with a booze tab totaling 17 million won ($15,000).

Seoul police said on Thursday owners and employees at three bars in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, have been indicted without detention for overcharging foreign tourists.

One of the indicted bar owners, surnamed Lee, allegedly charged an American tourist 17 million won for drinks he had during his one hour and 40 minutes stay at the bar.

An American tourist was charged 17 million won for his drinks at a bar in Itaewon, Seoul. (Yonhap)

The tourist found out about this overcharging only after returning to the US and receiving his credit card bill.

Two other indicted bar owners allegedly conspired to rip charge a German tourist about 7.9 million won.

The police are investigating whether the bar owners deliberately intoxicated the tourist, as traces of zolpidem and other narcotics were found in his hair.

Further inspections on local bars will be carried out by the police to curb such scams targeting foreign tourists.

Credit card receipts show overcharges on an American tourist (Left) and a German tourist (Right) (Yonhap)

(mjk625@heraldcorp.com)

W17m booze tab: Itaewon bars face probe over foreign tourist ripoff

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