Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Reviews Measures to Close Sex Trade Hotspots and Address Online Prostitution

Currently 15 Red-Light Districts... Local Governments Collaborate to Promote Closure
Online Grooming Punishment to Begin in September, Review of Investigation Guidelines and Preparations Underway

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is inspecting the closure status of prostitution districts and promoting support for the independence of victimized women.

The Ministry announced on the 10th that it will hold the Prostitution Subcommittee of the Women's Violence Prevention Committee at the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 11th. The meeting aims to review the closure status of prostitution districts and discuss measures to respond to online prostitution.

The Ministry has been closing prostitution districts in cooperation with local governments, civic groups, and local communities, reducing the number from 24 locations in 2016 to only 15 currently. They have continuously closed these districts by enacting necessary ordinances, forming dedicated teams, establishing urban renewal project plans, and supporting the independence and self-sufficiency of victimized women.

In the case of Jeonju, a self-sufficiency support ordinance was enacted in 2017, and a cultural regeneration project is planned to be completed within the year. Livelihood expenses and vocational training costs were provided to 38 women victimized by prostitution, among whom 13 found employment or entered further education.

The Ministry installed and operated 30 prostitution victim counseling centers and 10 nearby simple shelters called Yeollinteo to support victims in leaving prostitution during the closure process. The counseling centers provide medical and legal support, vocational training, and treatment and recovery programs, supporting the independence of 771 women last year.

The Ministry stated, "We will continue to cooperate with the National Police Agency, local governments, and related ministries until all prostitution districts are closed, while focusing on supporting the independence of women who have left prostitution."

The Ministry is also advancing efforts to respond to online prostitution, including strengthening crackdowns and inspections, protecting victims, and blocking harmful information.

At this meeting, preparations for the online grooming punishment scheduled to be enforced in September and the police's identity non-disclosure and undercover investigation measures will be reviewed. They plan to revise subordinate laws and prepare detailed investigation guidelines.

The National Police Agency is intensifying crackdowns and punishments on prostitution offenders, focusing on chat apps that have become hotbeds of online prostitution, and responding through dedicated investigation systems such as the "Women and Children Crime Investigation Unit." The number of people punished for arranging prostitution reached 10,730 last year.

Kim Kyung-sun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, said, "The government will cooperate with local governments, civic groups, and related agencies to ensure that communities take responsibility for closing prostitution districts, while strengthening support for the independence and self-sufficiency of victimized women. We will make every effort to establish systems such as the online grooming punishment and undercover identity concealment investigations, which will be enforced in September, and will enhance joint inspections by related ministries to prevent prostitution."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.