Disclosing photos banned in international marriage ads

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family banned the disclosing of faces in 'international' marriage advertisements, Friday. / Screen captured from YouTube

By Lee Hyo-jin

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced Friday that marriage broker agencies are now banned from disclosing photos of clients in their advertisements, following the enforcement of revisions to laws they are subject to.

The revisions prohibits matchmakers from including clients' photographs in their ads, as well as personal information such as their weight and height.

The ministry said although the regulations are mainly aimed at “international” marriage advertisements, the same rules apply to agencies targeting matchmaking between Koreans.

Violators will face to up to three years in prison or a fine up to 30 million won ($27,400), as well as administrative measures such as suspension or cancellation of their business licenses.

Also, marriage brokers must undergo mandatory education programs on the protection of human rights and understanding multicultural societies.

Until Friday, only ads that disclosed personal information without the users' consent were subject to orders to remove the ads. But the revision has strengthened the regulation for all advertisements regardless of the consent of those who appear in them.

The gender ministry plans to set up a monitoring team under the Korean Institute for Healthy Family to crack down on violations.

“International marriage advertisements that sexually objectify women is a serious violation of the human rights of marriage migrants and also leads to social prejudice and discrimination against multicultural families,” Gender Minister Chung Young-ai said in a statement.

“We will continue to make various policies to eradicate human rights violations and prevent discrimination against marriage migrants and increase the acceptance of multiculturalism in our society,” she added.