Arlington Heights denies business acupuncture license

Arlington Heights trustees told Wan Joo Rhee to pick another location for his acupuncture salon. Any other site but 308 E. Golf Road - the home of two prostitution-related busts in the past 10 years.

But Rhee replied that the $1,000 per month sublease was too good to pass up and appealed to the village board for a business license. He had already been denied by the village's building department.

After a long hearing and an hour in closed session, the board came back with its unanimous answer: No.

Trustees didn't accuse Rhee of having anything to do with the past prostitution at the International Plaza storefront, but board members expressed concern about a few things: First, Rhee at the hearing on Wednesday was represented by attorney Ira Moltz, who once represented the woman charged with prostitution three times. He would be subletting from that woman. And, a contractor who did work for the same woman was ready to do interior work for Rhee.

In July 2008, six people were arrested at the site for prostitution-related charges after an undercover sting. In 2001, the same salon - Singapore Salon - was raided and the same salon manager - Kil Sun Fara - was arrested. Fara was also arrested on charges of prostitution in 1997.

A month after the 2008 bust, an attorney for Fara turned in her business licensee instead of going through with a hearing. The spot has remained vacant since then.

Village Prosecutor Ernie Blomquist called 308 E. Golf Road the "most infamous address of any address in this community.

"There is a filthy history dating back 10 years at that location," Blomquist said. "And now, we're talking about a business where hands are touching hands and clothing may be removed."

Rhee said he initially had no knowledge of Fara's recent arrest and heard about the open storefront from a friend while he was shopping at a nearby video store.

Moltz painted this client as an educated, churchgoing man. He lives in Itasca with his wife and three children. Rhee ran an acupuncture salon in the International Plaza from 2003 until 2007, when he moved to Northbrook.

Rhee said he wanted to return to the International Plaza because of the high Korean population in Arlington Heights and Schaumburg.

"I'm a professional," Rhee said. "I would never do anything illegal."

Rhee - who has no criminal record - was simply a victim of guilt by association, Moltz said.

"You gave this man a business license a few years ago in the same plaza," Moltz said. "I know you've had a horrible experience with Singapore Salon. But we're stuck trying to fight something we had nothing to do with. And my client isn't stupid. He knows he'll be monitored."

But village officials have been tricked before.

After Fara was arrested on charges of operating a house of prostitution in February 2001, the village board revoked Singapore Salon's business license. A few months after the village board voted to rescind Singapore's license in 2001, a new owner with a clean record applied for a business license. The business license was reissued.

Then the owner rehired Fara.

"It's difficult to erase history," Village President Arlene Mulder told Rhee. "People get accustomed to a storefront and assume the same services are offered there."

After the business forfeited its license last August, Blomquist and Village Attorney Jack Siegel said there would be special rules applying to any business that wants to open at that storefront.

"That facility in a sense has been tainted," Siegel said. "Seven years ago, we were here at a similar hearing. It was the same name in the same facility engaged in the same type of business. It will not happen again."