Do we need red light districts in Seoul?

Binnenstad, a red-light district in Amsterdam. The Netherland legalized licensed prositution in 2000 and its red-light district is recognizable across the world. / Korea Times photo by Lim Mi-young

Kim Kang-ja, former chief of Jongam Police Station in Seoul

Shin Jin-hee, lawyer for sex trade victims

By Kim Jae-heun

More than a decade since a special law was enacted against prostitution, it appears little has been done to quell the industry.

Rather, it has evolved into more diverse forms, and is still readily available for customers anytime day or night.

This has led experts from both the pro and con sides to argue over the merits of legalizing prostitution in government-approved red-light districts.

Both groups have approached the issue from a women’s rights perspective rather than enforcing the law.

Once an anti-prostitution crusader, Kim Kang-ja ― a police chief turned professor ― argues that an Amsterdam-style district of brothels should be set up.

Kim played a key role in building public opinion for the anti-prostitution law; she had previously abolished a red-light district while commissioner of Jongam Police Station in eastern Seoul.

Today she takes a much different stance, believing that red-light districts are not such a bad idea after all.

“I arrested prostitutes, but it didn’t help them to rehabilitate because they lost the only way they had to make a living,” Kim said, before adding, “There are no human rights when you are starving to death. They badly want state-regulated prostitution themselves.”

The special law in 2004 prioritized cracking down on brothels in Mia-ri in eastern Seoul and other red-light districts.

This served to drive many brothels underground, and by 2010 the amount of prostitution charges made by police, 143,000, was basically the same as before the special law was even enacted.

“One of the biggest benefits from the anti-prostitution law is that many brothels are no longer seen on the streets in big cities like Yongsan,” said Shin Jin-hee, who was appointed by the state to provide legal help for prostitutes. “However, a number of them have evolved into different forms and are thriving.”

Shin believes legalization will not solve many of the problems associated with the industry.

“Legalizing prostitution does not mean full protection by the law. If prostitution is licensed in a legal business, it could spawn more illegal acts, ironically making protection of female victims more difficult,”

She added, “Legalizing prostitution for easier control is the wrong idea. Every policy requires a justifiable purpose and proper ways to carry it out. Purpose comes before means.”

Director of the Prevention Education of Violence Department, Song In-ja, also opposes legalized prostitution.

“I personally disagree, and so do many women’s organizations,” Song said. “Buying sex itself is a crime and an act of demolishing human dignity. The government should not take part in legalizing the sex trade.”