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Suit Has South Korea Looking Anew at Its Hard Line on Prostitution Suit Has South Korea Looking Anew at Its Hard Line on Prostitution
(about 9 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jeong-mi, a 43-year-old prostitute in Seoul, says she knows about humiliation. She usually charges customers 20,000 to 30,000 won, or about $18 to $27 — roughly a third of what her younger competition gets. When desperate, she has gone as low as 10,000 won. She has felt people sneering. SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jeong-mi, a 43-year-old prostitute in Seoul, says she knows about humiliation. She usually charges customers 20,000 to 30,000 won, or about $18 to $27 — roughly a third of what her younger competition gets. When desperate, she has gone as low as 10,000 won. She has felt people sneering.
But what happened in July 2012 was too much to accept, she says. Three uniformed male police officers raided her room while she was with a customer. During such raids, the police typically collect a used condom or other evidence from a bedside trash can.But what happened in July 2012 was too much to accept, she says. Three uniformed male police officers raided her room while she was with a customer. During such raids, the police typically collect a used condom or other evidence from a bedside trash can.
But that night, she says, the officers made her get dressed for questioning while they watched and took photographs, “giving me no time to keep the least dignity as a human.”But that night, she says, the officers made her get dressed for questioning while they watched and took photographs, “giving me no time to keep the least dignity as a human.”
So she pushed back.So she pushed back.
She challenged the 500,000 won fine from the police. With the help of an advocacy group, she also filed a lawsuit asking the Constitutional Court of South Korea to strike down a law that, besides criminalizing prostitution, calls on the state to root it out. In April, after two years of deliberation, largely through consulting documents, the court held a public hearing, which lawyers said indicated that the nine justices were nearing a decision. The case follows the decision in February to decriminalize adultery, a landmark ruling that analysts said reflected changing social attitudes toward sex.She challenged the 500,000 won fine from the police. With the help of an advocacy group, she also filed a lawsuit asking the Constitutional Court of South Korea to strike down a law that, besides criminalizing prostitution, calls on the state to root it out. In April, after two years of deliberation, largely through consulting documents, the court held a public hearing, which lawyers said indicated that the nine justices were nearing a decision. The case follows the decision in February to decriminalize adultery, a landmark ruling that analysts said reflected changing social attitudes toward sex.
“I want what I do to be recognized as a job, a legitimate way of making a living,” Ms. Kim said recently. “This is better than stealing for a living, isn’t it?”“I want what I do to be recognized as a job, a legitimate way of making a living,” Ms. Kim said recently. “This is better than stealing for a living, isn’t it?”
South Korea has always outlawed prostitution, stipulating fines or a prison sentence of up to a year for prostitutes and their customers and harsher penalties for pimps and brothel owners. Still, it tended to look the other way as red-light districts prospered.South Korea has always outlawed prostitution, stipulating fines or a prison sentence of up to a year for prostitutes and their customers and harsher penalties for pimps and brothel owners. Still, it tended to look the other way as red-light districts prospered.
That changed after 14 young prostitutes, trapped in their rooms, died during a fire in 2002. Amid public outrage, the government began a more aggressive campaign against the sex trade, and an overhauled statute took effect in 2004. It called not merely for preventing prostitution, but for eradicating it.That changed after 14 young prostitutes, trapped in their rooms, died during a fire in 2002. Amid public outrage, the government began a more aggressive campaign against the sex trade, and an overhauled statute took effect in 2004. It called not merely for preventing prostitution, but for eradicating it.
Police crackdowns have since become more frequent. The number of red-light districts in the country fell to 44 in 2013, from 69 in 2002, according to government figures, and the number of women working in those districts fell to 5,100 from 9,100. In 2013, the police investigated more than 8,600 cases of prostitution. The government has cited these figures as evidence that the new law is working. But prostitutes and other critics of the law say those numbers failed to account for the many women selling sex at bars, on social networking services and through smartphone dating apps. These represent a more shadowy side of the sex industry that those critics contend is expanding because of the crackdowns on red-light districts and leaves the women involved more vulnerable to abusive customers, pimps and others. (In South Korea, homosexuality largely remains a taboo subject; the issue of male prostitutes catering to male clients is seldom discussed in public and has not been raised in the current debate.) Police crackdowns have since become more frequent. The number of red-light districts in the country fell to 44 in 2013, from 69 in 2002, according to government figures, and the number of women working in those districts fell to 5,100 from 9,100. In 2013, the police investigated more than 8,600 cases of prostitution. The government has cited these figures as evidence that the new law is working.
But prostitutes and other critics of the law say those numbers failed to account for the many women selling sex at bars, on social networking services and through smartphone dating apps. These represent a more shadowy side of the sex industry that those critics contend is expanding because of the crackdowns on red-light districts and leaves the women involved more vulnerable to abusive customers, pimps and others. (In South Korea, homosexuality largely remains a taboo subject; the issue of male prostitutes catering to male clients is seldom discussed in public and has not been raised in the current debate.)
“These are women struggling to make a living despite a social stigma. Should we drive them to death by branding them again as criminals?” asked Park Kyung-shin, a professor of law at Korea University in Seoul. He was referring to the November death of a 24-year-old single mother who jumped out of a sixth-floor motel room to escape a police raid.“These are women struggling to make a living despite a social stigma. Should we drive them to death by branding them again as criminals?” asked Park Kyung-shin, a professor of law at Korea University in Seoul. He was referring to the November death of a 24-year-old single mother who jumped out of a sixth-floor motel room to escape a police raid.
Chung Kwan-young, Ms. Kim’s lawyer for the Constitutional Court hearing, argued that the law should be changed to allow — and regulate — red-light districts.Chung Kwan-young, Ms. Kim’s lawyer for the Constitutional Court hearing, argued that the law should be changed to allow — and regulate — red-light districts.
But Choi Tae-won, a Justice Ministry lawyer, defended the statute as the last bulwark against “anarchistic depravity.”But Choi Tae-won, a Justice Ministry lawyer, defended the statute as the last bulwark against “anarchistic depravity.”
“If this law is gone, it will rapidly accelerate the perception of sex as a commodity,” he said.“If this law is gone, it will rapidly accelerate the perception of sex as a commodity,” he said.
Choi Hyun-hi, a lawyer who represented the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, questioned the prostitutes’ claim that they needed to make a living. She said, “Despite heartbreaking stories about hard lives, we still punish those stealing for a living, don’t we?”Choi Hyun-hi, a lawyer who represented the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, questioned the prostitutes’ claim that they needed to make a living. She said, “Despite heartbreaking stories about hard lives, we still punish those stealing for a living, don’t we?”
Outside the courthouse, members of a national sex workers’ association, wearing large sunglasses and baseball caps, held signs that read, “We have families to support!” They warned that if red-light districts were closed, there would be more rapes and other sex crimes. A petition signed by 882 prostitutes and submitted to the court said the government had no right to “use criminal punishment to discourage voluntary sex among adults.”Outside the courthouse, members of a national sex workers’ association, wearing large sunglasses and baseball caps, held signs that read, “We have families to support!” They warned that if red-light districts were closed, there would be more rapes and other sex crimes. A petition signed by 882 prostitutes and submitted to the court said the government had no right to “use criminal punishment to discourage voluntary sex among adults.”
Chang Se-hee, an association leader, also accused South Korea of helping export prostitution, saying crackdowns at home were driving more prostitutes to migrate to countries like Japan and the United States. Nearby, anti-prostitution activists rallied with their own catchphrase: “There are things you cannot sell or buy with money.”Chang Se-hee, an association leader, also accused South Korea of helping export prostitution, saying crackdowns at home were driving more prostitutes to migrate to countries like Japan and the United States. Nearby, anti-prostitution activists rallied with their own catchphrase: “There are things you cannot sell or buy with money.”
The Constitutional Court has not indicated when it might rule, although several lawyers involved agree that a decision will probably come this year.The Constitutional Court has not indicated when it might rule, although several lawyers involved agree that a decision will probably come this year.
For now, Ms. Kim continues to ply her trade. She says prostitution has been her only meal ticket since she was 24.For now, Ms. Kim continues to ply her trade. She says prostitution has been her only meal ticket since she was 24.
A high-school dropout, she says she drifted from one menial job to another after both her parents died when she was a teenager. But she could hardly make ends meet because she could not lift heavy objects or stand for more than an hour at a time. Her right foot was crushed in a traffic accident, also when she was a teenager, and it did not heal properly.A high-school dropout, she says she drifted from one menial job to another after both her parents died when she was a teenager. But she could hardly make ends meet because she could not lift heavy objects or stand for more than an hour at a time. Her right foot was crushed in a traffic accident, also when she was a teenager, and it did not heal properly.
Today she lives with a pet Shih Tzu she adopted from the street, and lives in a motel room that costs 400,000 won a month. Between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. every day except Sunday, she goes to work in the capital’s Cheongryangri red-light district, a lattice of alleys lined with “glass rooms” where young women in miniskirts and high heels can be observed sitting on stools under white and pink neon lights. (In another red-light district in Seoul, called Miari, women sit in their glass boxes wearing wedding dresses.) When men pass, the women rap on the windows and call out, “Come in for a rest!”Today she lives with a pet Shih Tzu she adopted from the street, and lives in a motel room that costs 400,000 won a month. Between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. every day except Sunday, she goes to work in the capital’s Cheongryangri red-light district, a lattice of alleys lined with “glass rooms” where young women in miniskirts and high heels can be observed sitting on stools under white and pink neon lights. (In another red-light district in Seoul, called Miari, women sit in their glass boxes wearing wedding dresses.) When men pass, the women rap on the windows and call out, “Come in for a rest!”
Ms. Kim works on “Widows’ Alley,” where prostitutes in their 50s and 60s do business, renting spaces barely big enough for a bed for 10,000 won a day. Piles of coal briquettes sit outside their huts. Ms. Kim, the youngest on the alley, was relegated to that location several years ago because her foot injury made it increasingly hard for her to wear high heels, an essential prop for younger prostitutes.Ms. Kim works on “Widows’ Alley,” where prostitutes in their 50s and 60s do business, renting spaces barely big enough for a bed for 10,000 won a day. Piles of coal briquettes sit outside their huts. Ms. Kim, the youngest on the alley, was relegated to that location several years ago because her foot injury made it increasingly hard for her to wear high heels, an essential prop for younger prostitutes.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, an aging woman sat on a red plastic stool, and as an old man with a cane passed through the alley she tried in vain to entice him.On a recent Saturday afternoon, an aging woman sat on a red plastic stool, and as an old man with a cane passed through the alley she tried in vain to entice him.
“We get all kinds of people here, drunkards who beat us for no reason, who demand their money back,” Ms. Kim said. “Don’t you think we dream of doing something else, leaving this place one day? But those who try always end back here.”“We get all kinds of people here, drunkards who beat us for no reason, who demand their money back,” Ms. Kim said. “Don’t you think we dream of doing something else, leaving this place one day? But those who try always end back here.”
The South Korean government says it operates 10 rehabilitation centers for prostitutes, providing them with 600,000 to 900,000 won in monthly stipends.The South Korean government says it operates 10 rehabilitation centers for prostitutes, providing them with 600,000 to 900,000 won in monthly stipends.
Last year, the program helped 226 women return to school and 640 find new jobs, the government says.Last year, the program helped 226 women return to school and 640 find new jobs, the government says.
But Ms. Kim does not trust the government and vows to continue as a prostitute for as long as she can. She notes that a police station overlooks one entrance to her red-light zone, and that officers patrol but never close it.But Ms. Kim does not trust the government and vows to continue as a prostitute for as long as she can. She notes that a police station overlooks one entrance to her red-light zone, and that officers patrol but never close it.
“They come and selectively catch a few unfortunate women at a time and collect fines like taxes,” Ms. Kim said. “The state is no different than a pimp.”“They come and selectively catch a few unfortunate women at a time and collect fines like taxes,” Ms. Kim said. “The state is no different than a pimp.”