Will Sexy Nurses and Police Officers Appear Again? Concerns Over Sexual Objectification Ahead of Halloween

Distortion of Specific Occupations is a Serious Violation of Rights and Dignity
Korean Nurses Association: "Nurses are Professionals Who Treat and Protect Patients"

On Halloween Day, October 31, 2021, citizens are walking on the streets of Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As the Halloween festival held annually at the end of October approaches, concerns are rising again that certain professions are being sexualized. For nurses, this includes wearing partially torn skirts along with the now-discontinued nurse cap, or police officers wearing fishnet stockings and wielding handcuffs. This applies not only to these professions but also to soldiers and flight attendants.

The Korean Nurses Association has already requested a stop to the sexualization by stating that "nurses are professionals who treat and protect patients," yet sexualization of various professions continues this year as well. Citizens visiting Lotte World and Everland, where Halloween festivals are currently being held, can easily be seen taking photos dressed in revealing nurse or police costumes.

Sexualizing specific groups or severely distorting their value is controversial not only in Korea but also abroad. In the United States, a figure wearing traditional Muslim attire holding a bomb in hand sparked criticism for promoting religious prejudice, and Halloween costumes resembling the US-Mexico border wall worn by American elementary school teachers caused social controversy.

Moreover, such incidents are not limited to Halloween. In October 2020, the nurse costume worn by singer Jennie in BLACKPINK's music video Lovesick Girls sparked controversy. The Health and Medical Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions issued a statement saying, "Because many workers in the profession are women, they have been exposed to sexual objectification and derogatory depictions that question their professionalism," and demanded the agency take "appropriate action commensurate with their popularity and influence." Although the agency appealed to "view it as art," the controversial scene was deleted as the debate continued.

Experts see the recurring Halloween sexualization controversy as having a commercial business value aspect, where supply and demand align. They emphasized that although it is a festival, behaviors that can harm others should be avoided.

Professor Seol Dong-hoon of Jeonbuk National University (Department of Sociology) said, "Sexual objectification of certain professions can seriously violate the rights and dignity of those involved," and regarding the background of the repetition of such acts, he pointed out, "Since (provocative costumes, etc.) sell well, they are being sold, but they can be defined as unethical products."

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