The National Police Agency plans to begin a nationwide crackdown, organizing
special units at each police station to prevent expansion of prostitution, the
Korea Times reported Thursday.
Following enactment of anti-prostitution legislation in September 2004, brothel
owners and prostitution began to ply their trade at massage parlors, saunas and
bars.
Police estimate there are 118 places offering sex in Yoksam-dong in southern
Seoul, 207 in Somyon in Pusan and 446 in Kuri in Kyonggi Province.
The NPA said the number of brothels in red light districts across the nation
has decreased by 38 percent from 1,679, the number before the anti-prostitution
law took effect, to 1,043.
The number of women engaged in the sex trade has declined by 56 percent from
5,567 to 2,463, the newspaper reported.
United Press International
