A 42-year-old pimp was rescued from forced labor on a fishing boat, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police said Monday.

The victim, originally a restaurant owner, introduced a woman to a prostitution bar run by a trio of gangsters in Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang Province in March 2015. 

Within a week, the woman ran away with 5 million won ($4,300) in advance payment.

The victim was forced by the gang to sign a contract to work on a fishing boat in the southern coast of Korea for 10 million won, of which 7 million won was extorted.

He reported the case to the police after returning to land in April.

The police said the three gang members were arrested under charges of illegal intimidation and extortion.

Prostitution is banned in Korea. Whether the men, including the victim who played the role of a pimp, will be punished for participating in the illegal sex trade, is to be determined upon further investigation.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)