Paju City: "Red-Light District Demolition Is Not Forced... Claims of Human Rights Violations Are Distorted"

by Lee jonggu

Published 18 Apr.2025 15:37(KST)

Birch Tree Association of Female Workers Files Human Rights Petition Over Threats to Livelihood and Housing
Paju City: “Repeated Three-Year Postponement Demand During 13 Meetings”
Support for Women Exiting Prostitution: Up to Two Years of Housing, Livelihood, and Education Assistance
City Asserts: “Victims Are Not Driven Out or Threatened in Their Right to Livelihood”

Amid the self-described ‘Birch Tree Association of Female Workers’ within the red-light district in Yeonpung-ri, Paju-eup, Paju City, Gyeonggi Province, submitting a petition to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea claiming that the city’s demolition measures infringe on their right to livelihood and housing, Paju City has issued a strong rebuttal.

Paju City is demolishing the red-light district. Photo by Paju City

On April 18, Paju City released an official statement, declaring, “We cannot accept any attempt to disparage legitimate administrative action as ‘forced demolition’ or to justify illegal prostitution.” The city emphasized that prostitution is clearly illegal and cannot be justified under any circumstances.

Paju City stated that from January 2023, when it began its policy to close the red-light district in earnest, through May 2024, it held a total of 13 meetings. Of these, only two meetings were held without the attendance of prostitution victims, and the demand to “postpone the closure for three years” was repeatedly raised during these discussions.

The city stressed, “As a law enforcement agency, we cannot negotiate demands to overlook illegal activities or to neglect victims.”

Paju City also explained that most of the buildings subject to demolition were illegal structures, such as glass rooms, prefabricated panels, and canopies, while rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms actually used for residential purposes were excluded from demolition. So far, the number of buildings voluntarily demolished by the owners has reached 40.

Furthermore, Paju City enacted and has been enforcing the ‘Paju City Ordinance on Support for Self-Reliance of Prostitution Victims’ since May 2023 to guarantee the right to livelihood for prostitution victims, and has supported the exit from prostitution and self-reliance of 15 individuals to date. These individuals receive cash support for living expenses, housing costs, and vocational training for two years, and are also provided with a self-reliance grant when they become independent.

Paju City countered, “We are providing stable housing in the areas desired by prostitution victims, along with cash support equivalent to the national basic livelihood security benefit. We are not driving victims out onto the streets.”

Paju City also stated that both the international community and domestic law define prostitution as a form of human trafficking, and that the closure of the red-light district is being pursued to prevent sexual exploitation and to pass on a healthy society to future generations.

A Paju City official added, “It is the city’s responsibility to protect the human rights of prostitution victims and to put an end to sexual exploitation,” and emphasized, “Accepting the claims of certain groups as fact is no different from condoning sexual exploitation.”