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New anti-prostitution measure causes stir
By Lee Jin-woo October 4, 2004
Police are drawing fire from human rights groups for their plans to give
rewards to those who report sex trade cases, which activists argue may violate
human rights of innocent victims.
Police announced on Friday that it will set the reward system for sex trade
reporters in motion beginning Oct. 11. The police plan to give up to 2 million
won (around $1,750) to those who notify the authorities of sex trade cases or
the location of sex traders. Police said they will increase the amount of the
reward in the future.
The police have conducted a large-scale crackdown on sex trade businesses, but
their efforts are backfiring as sex businesses have turned to the Internet,
residential areas and school zones to attract customers.
Critics argue the reward system may cause many negative effects, saying
freelance photographers will try to make a living by snooping around as many
cases as possible, often infringing on innocent victims’ rights to privacy.
It is worried that those paparazzi may commit extortion by threatening people
who commit adultery and may destroy families’ lives. Many people are also
concerned that pictures and other related information might be open to the
public and incur irrevocable damage to related people. Also, entertainment
spots such as karaoke bars and lodging facilities such as hotels and motels
might suffer serious damages incidentally.
Since the crackdown, which was launched on Sept. 23, brothel operators and
prostitutes who work in red-light districts have staged rallies in downtown
Seoul, denouncing the government’s lack of alternative plans to help them find
another way of living.
On Oct. 1, some 300 women who work in red-light districts, including one in
Miari, northern Seoul, carried out a demonstration in front of Inchon City
Hall, calling for the protection of their livelihood. Some 200 women who belong
to brothels in the area held a meeting in the evening on the same day and
decided to stage a rally in front of the National Assembly in Yoido on Oct. 7.
Late last month, a prostitute in the area attempted suicide after taking about
20 sleeping pills while leaving a note denouncing the police crackdown. Brothel
operators of Chongryangri, northern Seoul, also held a news conference in an
effort to protect their livelihoods on Sept. 30.
With the new anti-prostitution law, police have apprehended 468 violators
engaged in illegal sex trades. Twenty-one people have been arrested, including
13 brothel owners and seven customers, while requesting arrest warrants for 27
others. Some 420 violators have been arrested without detention.
Among the cases, karaoke bars providing sex ranked first with 41 cases, trailed
by illegal barber shops offering prostitutes with 16 cases. Shops in red-light
districts came in third with 14 cases. Illegal massage parlors came in fourth
with 13 cases.
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Anti-prostitution
laws draw more protests
10-1-2004
Sex
traders protests police crackdown
9-24-2004
Story
of crackdowns and disappearing prostitution
9-24-2004
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