3 plead not guilty to running brothel in Irvine

Three people accused of running a brothel in Irvine pleaded not guilty Monday to dozens of felony charges, including pimping and human trafficking.

Authorities say Miyoun Kim, 36, of Newport Beach and two Los Angeles men — Gin Woo Park, 41, and Heung Soon Kim, 56 — persuaded several women to work at their prostitution business, run out of a leased apartment in the 2000 block of Alton Parkway.

A tip to detectives led to more than a year of investigation, and undercover Irvine police arrested the three suspects at the apartment Thursday, according to police.

Prosecutors charged Park and Heung Kim with two felony counts of human trafficking, 13 felony counts of pimping and 13 felony counts of pandering. They could face more than 40 years in prison if convicted, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office. Both are being held at Orange County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Miyoun Kim is charged with six felony counts of pimping and six felony counts of pandering. She could face up to 12 years and eight months in prison. She is jailed with bail set at $250,000.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck