The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, August 16, 2022 | 07:18
-------------------------
Koreans drive demand for child prostitution in Southeast Asia
Posted : 2013-01-30 19:23
Updated : 2013-01-30 19:23
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Na Jeong-ju

Among foreigners visiting Southeast Asia, South Koreans are the majority group driving demand for child prostitution across the region, according to the state-run Korean Institute of Criminology.

The institute published a report on the involvement of South Koreans in the sex trade throughout Southeast Asia on Tuesday based on year-long on-site surveys conducted in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The report said there are no statistics showing how many South Koreans annually buy sex from minors in each country. However, many police officers and civic activists the institute's researchers met cited South Koreans as the "No. 1 source of demand for child sex trafficking," the institute said.

"If the testimony from many underage prostitutes, police officers and human rights groups is true, South Koreans are the biggest customers of the child sex industry in the region. That's very shameful for the country."

The problem is compounded by the fact that most Koreans who buy sex from minors in Southeast Asia don't feel guilty about their behavior.

Park Sun-young, a researcher from the institute, said the sex trade involving Koreans has become a social concern in many countries, but neither the tourists nor the Korean authorities take the problem very seriously.

"We need to take fundamental measures regarding this," Park said.

A survey conducted by the institute on 900 Korean tourists last year showed 77.7 percent were unaware that sex tourism in Southeast Asia was illegal. About 78 percent of respondents said Korean tourists won't be punished by the government even if they were caught buying sex.

Experts say Koreans are buying or selling sex overseas in more diverse, bolder and sophisticated ways, but the government has been negligent in taking action against these.

The problem has been recognized by many countries.

A 2008 report from the U.S. Department of State, "Trafficking in Persons Report," described South Korea as a significant source of demand for child sex tourism in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. It also noted that a growing number of South Korean women and girls are traded within the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong and even Western Europe.

Many tourism agencies arrange sex tours to Asian countries, but they have rarely been cracked down on.

"On online community websites, you can easily find information about prices for sex with minors and the best places to go," said Yun Hee-jun, head of a Seoul-based group campaigning against sex trafficking. "If you visit any brothel in Vietnam or Cambodia, you can see fliers written in Korean."

Emailjj@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Hyundai Motor Group becomes world's No. 3 automaker in sales volume
  • Thinking the unthinkable on North Korea
  • 'Missing Here' song bridges Israel, Korea
  • 'Japan is our partner': Yoon vows to improve Seoul-Tokyo ties
  • Consumers angered by luxury fashion platforms' return policies
  • Life of early 'Koryoin' featured in exhibition
  • [Analysis] Yoon faces uphill battle to regain public trust
  • Customs agency considers taxing intermediaries for brokered overseas purchases
  • Will Hyundai Motor Group reorganize Mobis for governance reform?
  • Conflict reignites over relocation of POSCO Holdings to Pohang City
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions
    • Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man
    • [INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles [INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles
    • Girls' Generation music video director apologizes for copying design Girls' Generation music video director apologizes for copying design
    • Star directors' new series to A-listers' small screen comeback expected in coming weeks Star directors' new series to A-listers' small screen comeback expected in coming weeks
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group