Human Trafficking in [South Korea] [other countries]Street Children in [South Korea] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [South Korea |
Child Prostitution The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of
Children In
the first ten years of the 21st Century -
2000 to 2009
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CAUTION: The following links and accompanying text have been culled
from the web to illuminate the situation in ***
FEATURED ARTICLE *** NGO Warns Of Spread Of 'Enjo Kosai' In Asia www.ecpat.net/eng/ECPAT_news/yomiuri.htm In ***
ARCHIVES *** www.ecpat.net/A4A_2005/PDF/EAP/Global_Monitoring_Report-SOUTH_KOREA.pdf South Korea’s rapid socio-economic
development has improved the quality of life for its children and youth,
narrowed the gender gap and improved access to education. At the same time,
the influence of a strong sexual culture and ‘sex merchandising’ and the
rapid development of information technology (IT) – telecommunications and
other media – have contributed to an increase in the commercial sexual
exploitation of children (CSEC). South Korea has one of the highest
numbers of Internet users in the world: nearly 80 per cent of the population.
Research conducted in 2005 by the Naeil Women’s
Centre for Youth (the ECPAT group in the country) showed that the Internet is
now a more popular venue for trading in sex than ‘ticket tea houses’
(escort-type services offering prostitution). The non-governmental organization
(NGO) Korean Women’s House reports an average of 100,000 runaway children and
youths per year, many of whom are employed in entertainment establishments
for adults and are sexually exploited. Research conducted by the Naeil Women’s Centre for Youth confirmed that runaway
children are at a high risk of being sexually exploited commercially. Of the
442 runaway youths (326 females, 116 males) interviewed, 81 per cent were
aged between 13 and 18, while 19 per cent were over 19 years of age. Forty-three
per cent of the 442 runaway youths had been approached to engage in the sex
trade, and 24 per cent had experience of commercial sex after running away.
Friends’ houses and jiimjiibang (sauna/bath houses
which operate 24 hours a day and provide sleeping facilities) were cited as
popular places for the runaways to sleep at night as they are relatively safe
and cheap. However, recent legislation prohibits underage customers, without
accompanying adults, from staying in the jiimjiibang
after 10 pm, thereby increasing the vulnerability of runaway minors to
violence and sexual abuse, as few other safe options exist. Bur of Democracy,
Human Rights & Labor - Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 CHILDREN - The Youth Protection Law
provides for prison terms of up to three years or a fine of up to $17,680 (20
million won) for owners of entertainment establishments who hire persons under
the age of 19. The Commission on Youth Protection also expanded the
definition of "entertainment establishment" to include facilities,
such as restaurants and cafes, where children were hired illegally as
prostitutes. Concluding
Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2003 [54] The Committee welcomes the
enactment in 2000 of the Juvenile Protection Act, which aims to penalize
those purchasing sexual services from children. However, the Committee is
concerned that this Act is not being effectively implemented, and that there
is limited data available on the prevalence of child sexual exploitation. It
is also concerned at reports of the widespread phenomenon of "Wonjokyuje"
in which adolescent girls engage in a sexual relationship with older men for
money. Indonesia
Seeks Dignified Relationship With Korea An Indonesian government leader
has asked Koreans to show respect to her nation, referring to foreigners
reportedly using child prostitutes in Bali. ``We hope to have a dignified
relationship with Korea and want Korean people to respect Indonesia. There
are many foreigners who look for child prostitution in Bali, although having
sex with children is subject to severe punishment,’’ the minister said in an
interview with The Korea Times Wednesday.
The minister’s remarks indicate that the Indonesian government wants
to prevent sex trade in the country by asking other countries to take a more
active role, instead of his country metering out severe punishment to sex
tourists. Child sex traders or abusers
can be sentenced to a maximum 15 years in prison in Indonesia, but the
country is rather lenient on foreigners as it is concerned that the strict
control of foreigners would damage the tourism business. Seoul
Denies Human Trafficking Accusations Seoul officials yesterday
challenged the United States’ portrayal of Korea as ``a frequent destination
for trafficked women and children from the former Soviet Union and
neighboring Asian nations.’’ Indonesia traffics children who
often become sexually enslaved, said the report, and women and girls as young
as 10 years old from Kyrgyzstan are transported for sexual exploitation and
end up in countries like South Korea, the report said. ECPAT: Fifth Report on implementation of the Agenda for
Action [DOC] www.ecpat.net/eng/Ecpat_inter/publication/other/english/Doc_page/ecpat_5th_a4a_2001_full.doc At one time this article had been
archived and may possibly still be accessible [here] [B]
COUNTRY UPDATES – KOREA (REP.) – The recent Act on Protection of
Children from Sexual Exploitation came into effect on July 1st 2000. The
substantial feature is the public disclosure about persons convicted under
the Act. Under the new law, brokers in
the child prostitution business, producers of child pornography and those who
commit sexual crimes against children will also be subject to severe
penalties. Clients convicted of having sex with child victims will be subject
to maximum three-year imprisonment. Child victims are immune from criminal
prosecution though they will undergo rehabilitation, counseling, and/or
protection. Korea Must
Counter Foreign Reports on Child Prostitution NGO Warns Of Spread Of 'Enjo Kosai' In Asia www.ecpat.net/eng/ECPAT_news/yomiuri.htm In All material used herein
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Human Trafficking in [South Korea] [other countries]Street Children in [South Korea] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [South Korea