Paju builds anti-prostitution center in red-light district in bid to shut down 'Yongjugol'

Members of a visiting group walk through the “Gender-Equal Paju” exhibition center, newly opened in a red-light district in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Korea Times photo by Lim Myung-soo

In a move to clean up a notorious red-light district of Yongjugol, the city of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, has opened a new anti-prostitution center in its very heart. The center, marked with a sign reading “Gender Equality Paju,” stands in sharp contrast to the aging three-story buildings of the surrounding area — and is part of a broader municipal effort to close down the decades-old sex trade hub.

Built on the site of two buildings purchased and demolished by the city, the new facility opened in late April and is already hosting exhibitions and educational programs on sex work and women's rights.

It welcomed a group Tuesday from a women's rehabilitation center in Seoul. According to city officials, the space will be used for exhibitions, public education programs and as a community center — all designed to increase foot traffic and discourage illicit activities in the area.

This is not the first time Paju has disrupted business as usual in Yongjugol, one of the country’s few remaining prostitution zones. In December 2023, the city opened a community education center just 100 meters away, preserving the interior of a former brothel to depict the realities of life for sex workers.

Purchased for 400 million won ($290,000) and remodeled at a cost of 190 million won, the building has become a tool for public awareness. Visitors can see windowless rooms clustered together, each with its own bathroom — a layout described by one former sex worker as “oppressively dark and terrifying.”

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province unveils a recreation of a waiting area used by sex workers on the first floor of a facility established late last year in Yongjugol red-light district. Korea Times photo by Lim Myung-soo

Twofold strategy

The city’s strategy is twofold: help women leave sex work and deter potential clients. Paju Mayor Kim Gyeong-il made shutting down Yongjugol his first policy pledge upon taking office in 2022 and declared the start of its official closure earlier this year.

To that end, Paju is revising its ordinance on supporting women exiting sex work. Starting in July, the application deadline will be lifted, allowing women to apply for support at any time.

The program offers up to 50.2 million won over two years, including living expenses, support for children under 18, housing aid, job training and assistance for self-sufficiency. As of Tuesday, 15 women had received support.

Of the 82 establishments designated for compulsory demolition this year, 73 have been fully or partially addressed. The city purchased six buildings housing such businesses and has since demolished five of them, including two on the site where the new “Gender-Equal Paju” facility now stands.

It also ramped up its anti-prostitution street campaign, known as the “Owl Patrol,” increasing its frequency from twice weekly to nightly patrols between 9 p.m. and midnight.

As a result, the number of brothels and sex workers in the area has declined from about 40 establishments with 90 workers last year to roughly 20 establishments with 40 workers.

A woman is seen negotiating with a man in a car in Paju's red-light district, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Lim Myung-soo

Still, some businesses remain undeterred. On Tuesday evening, eight establishments were seen operating, with signs of solicitation and client traffic continuing after dark. Two men were seen entering brothels within 30 minutes of the patrol starting, and four cars were spotted circling the area.

“This is more than a change in the physical landscape,” said Mayor Kim. “It’s a step toward returning this neighborhood to its citizens. With public support, we will shut down this red-light district once and for all.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.