Overview of the Year's First Crackdown
On January 15, 2026, the National Police Agency announced that, as 2026's first special enforcement action targeting adult-entertainment-related crime, it had busted 19 illegal adult-entertainment operations nationwide and arrested or referred to prosecutors 22 operators and employees.
Of the 19 cases, 11 were operations conducted without notification or a license, 5 were violations of late-night operating rules, 2 involved the use of minors, and 1 was classified as other. Notably, unlicensed outlets of the social-media-only customer-acquisition type (no website, contact only via direct message), which have increased in recent years, accounted for 8 cases—about 40% of the total.
Enforcement Policy for 2026
The National Police Agency set out the following as this year's priority issues. 1. Stronger response to unlicensed outlets of the social-media-only customer-acquisition type: expanding the specialist staff for cyber patrols 2. Continued crackdowns on illegal scout organizations: addressing the remaining organizations, including "Natural" 3. Start of operation of the new (revised) Businesses Affecting Public Morals Regulation Act: beginning enforcement of the notification requirement for online customer acquisition 4. Continued host-club-related crackdowns: establishing the legal doctrine for conspiracy cases
"In 2026 we will tighten enforcement even further. To protect the environment for operators who do business lawfully as well, we will be thorough in dealing with illegal operators," a National Police Agency official said.
This article is compiled from publicly available information.