Bill revision against host bars put on hold

By Kim Tae-jong

The government has put its plan to establish the legal grounds to punish the operators of bars and clubs that are a cover for male prostitution on hold.

Cabinet members suspended a vote on the bill for the law revision proposed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, asking for a more thorough review and examination.

The suspension came after President Lee Myung-bak put the brakes on the move. At a Cabinet meeting on March 29, President Lee said the revised law could legally acknowledge “host bars” where young males “entertain” female customers, often sexually, and therefore more profound measures to prevent such illegal practices were necessary.

Under the current law the authorities cannot arrest such male workers and their employers as only females are defined as “jeopdaebu,” a Korean term referring to those who serve drinks and sell sex at bars or clubs. The proposed bill was to include males in the definition to fix the loophole.

The health ministry now plans to discuss the issue with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender, Equality and Family, as well as the National Police Agency.

“We understand the call for a more thorough review considering opinions of those for and against the revision of the law,” said Yang Sung-il, a spokesman at the health ministry. “Reflecting broader opinions, we’ll soon re-propose the bill.”

The ministry basically maintains its stance that a revision of the law is required to regulate the current boom in host bars. Police estimate the number at about 200 in Gangnam alone, one of the most bustling districts in Seoul.

But civic groups denounced the ministry for its negligence in efforts to collect broader opinions in the first place before forwarding the bill to the Cabinet.

“We only received a letter from the ministry to ask for our opinion on the issue last week after the suspension at the Cabinet meeting,” Baek Su-min, an official from the Korean Women’s Association United (KWAU). “They should’ve have discussed the issue with us before they proposed the bill. That’s the official way.”

Civic groups, especially those against prostitution such as KWAU, argue that a revision of the decree is a much more sensitive issue as it is not just a matter of including males in the definition of jeopdaebu.

“We’re being very careful on the issue as it could make the prostitution business look legal, and so we think there should be more discussions before revising the law,” Baek said.