Korean sex workers fight prostitution ban

/Yonhap

By Lee Jin-a

Korean sex workers are taking their fight against a recent court decision that upheld the ban on prostitution to the United Nations.

The Hanteo National Union, which represents Korean sex workers, said Thursday it will deliver a petition to the U.N. opposing the Special Law on Prostitution ruling.

The law, which legalizes the criminal punishment of buyers and sellers of sex, violates the rights of sex workers, the union said.

About 30 union members have spoken with one voice at a press conference: “If there is no change in the treatment of sex workers, we will do what we can do, such as holding a press conference at the United Nations.”

The union also said it will continue to make efforts to legalize prostitution.

“The sex workers were sent into the slough of death,” the union said. “We will not give up decriminalizing prostitution.”

The organization said it will try to authorize social welfare programs for sex workers, including the establishment of a labor union, introducing a severance pay system and building senior care centers.

The Constitutional Court of Korea upheld the ban on prostitution on March 31, turning down the sex workers’ suit over the law.