9 people involved in a noraebang doumi racket have been busted in Gyesan-dong, just west of downtown Daegu. In noraebang culture, it’s not uncommon for customers to order ’singing assistants’ (aka ‘doumi’ 도우미) to accompany them in their room. Many noraebangs oblige with these requests and call up the requisite service. You may often see these service providers whizzing around town in cars and pulling up in front of noraebangs and dropping off or picking up girls. Although many of these assistants are there just for a few bucks to give legit singing and drinking assistance, some go ‘all the way’, charging fees up to 200,000 won. Needless to say, it’s a controversial subculture, particularly for the fact that its not just struggling college girls being employed, but often housewives or teenage girls passing for being of age. Male doumis are also employed for female customers who go to singing establishments. Doumi culture tends to get a blind-eye from the police for the most part, but police are always trying to monitor the prostitution element that often lurks amongst the blaring noise, bright lights, and drunken crooning.