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Anti-prostitution laws draw more protests
October 1, 2004
Anger is building among women in the sex industry over the Korean government's
efforts to close down brothels.
In Incheon, 300 prostitutes tried yesterday to confront government officials,
demonstrating in a two-hour protest in front of the Incheon City Hall. Women
from red-light districts in Seoul and Gyeonggi province gathered to protest a
new law being enforced to curb the sex trade, complaining that their ability to
make a living is at risk.
"We are straining to eke out a living, and this crackdown is not helping us at
all," one woman participating in the protest said, asking for a suspension of
the law. "Give us at least a grace period so we can seek other employment."
Under the new laws, those who engage a prostitute now face jail time of up to a
year and fines of up to 3 million won ($2,631).
Earlier this week, one woman from Hawolgok-dong attempted suicide to condemn
the government's policy. A 24-year-old woman, identified as Ms. Yoon was
discovered unconscious after taking 20 sleeping pills. Next to her, a note
read, "It is over government policy that I am committing suicide, not because
of a vicious employer."
The note denounced government actions. "Legislators are living off the fines we
pay. Why are they stopping us when this is the only thing that's left for us to
do?" She added that she wanted to pay insurance and employment taxes, so
prostitution should be legalized.
"It is unfortunate that she attempted suicide," said Lee Geum-young, head of
the Women and Teenagers Affairs department at the National Police Agency,
explaining that the new law was designed to protect women. "The sex trade leads
to serious crimes, so the crackdown will remain."
Meanwhile, an association of entertainment establishments on Jeju Island
announced yesterday that four room saloons on Jeju had closed because of the
anti-sex trade law.
Japanese tourists were the establishment's major customers, one of the saloons
said. After the law was enforced, more than 200 tourists called to cancel their
reservations.
"We explained that the tourists couldn't take the girls out of the saloons
because of the new law, and a lot of them cancelled their trips to Jeju
Island," a travel agent said.
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