43 Cramped Rooms Like Chicken Coops, Only Contraceptives Left Behind... Inside a Sex Work Establishment

A building housing prostitution establishments in Seoseong-dong, Changwon, with narrow rooms closely packed together. / Photo by Kim Kyung-young, Gyeongnam Provincial Councilor

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jucheol In] The building where prostitution took place in the Seoseong-dong gathering area of Masanhappo-gu, Changwon City, has been revealed. This place was the last remaining prostitution gathering area in the Gyeongnam region.

On the 13th, the Gyeongnam Women's Welfare Counseling Center, Facility Council, and Gyeongnam Women's Association visited the former prostitution building purchased by Changwon City.

The location they visited was ‘Ujeongjip,’ a prostitution establishment purchased by Changwon City last May. This building was a place where prostitution occurred until 2017.

The entrance of ‘Ujeongjip,’ one of the largest prostitution establishments in Gyeongnam, was blocked by steel plate walls, controlling access. All furniture and fixtures inside the building had been removed.

Inside the building, there were two dark corridors with 43 small rooms lined up like chicken coops. The cramped rooms, just enough for two adults to lie down, had no small windows and only air conditioner hoses connected to the outside.

There was a shared restroom and shower area, as well as a warehouse-type parking lot that could accommodate 10 vehicles.

Changwon City Council member Moon Sung-gyu, who inspected the site, said, “The room size was about 2.5 pyeong (approximately 8.3 square meters),” and “There were about 43 small rooms of similar size.”

All furniture and fixtures had been removed. Some rooms still contained male contraceptives.

Building of a prostitution establishment in Seoseong-dong, Changwon. / Photo by Kim Kyung-young, Gyeongnam Provincial Councilor

Changwon City is planning to close the Seoseong-dong prostitution gathering area and create a park.

The Seoseong-dong gathering area emerged after the opening of Masan Port in 1905. Most prostitution gathering areas in other parts of Gyeongnam have disappeared. However, Changwon City has identified that about 20 establishments are still operating in the Seoseong-dong area.

Changwon City has set a policy to close the Seoseong-dong prostitution gathering area and develop it into a neighborhood park.

Changwon City plans to demolish the Ujeongjip building (site area 1,322㎡) and use the site as a parking lot. Some suggest converting it into a Women's Human Rights Museum to educate about human rights violations experienced by victims.

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