Gyeonggi Provincial Police take a dim view of such operations. "We understand
that there are four doll experience operations currently open for business in
the city of Suwon," they said. "We are currently looking into whether these
businesses violate the law."
Known as a "real doll" or "dirty wife" in the West, the sex toys come in
vaguely humanoid shape and have skin that manufacturers say is almost the same
to the touch as the real thing. They were introduced to the Korean mainstream
at the Sexpo at the Seoul Trade Exhibition Center in August.
After the Special Law on Prostitution went into effect in 2004, the press
reported that certain motels were providing the dolls to customers to bridge
the gap, but this is the first time establishments dedicated to the experience
have sprung up in the city.
Ads looking for others who are interested in running their own sex doll rooms
are springing up on the Internet, a development that leads police to suspect
that more such establishments exists across the country.
But rubber is rubber and flesh is flesh, so it remains unclear if selling one violates laws against the sale of the other. "Since the sex acts are occurring with a doll and not a human being, it is unclear whether the Special Law on Prostitution applies." a police officer lamented.
