Prosecutors said Sunday they had charged nearly 30 people for involvement in dogfighting.

Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office said it had arrested nine people, including gangsters suspected of hosting fights between pit bull terriers. Eight other organizers were added to the wanted list.

Another nine, including dog owners and gamblers, were also indicted without detention, and 11 more participants were summarily indicted.

They were found to have held some 30 dogfights over a year, largely in central areas of the country.

The gambling amounted to 620 million won ($585,734) in total.

Those charged include a company owner, a securities firm executive and a former middle school teacher.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)