hankyoreh

A growing number of South Korean males in their late teens and early 20s are going to Southeast Asian countries to buy sex, as the crackdown on the sex trade here is intensifying, a report showed.

According to the report, based on a field survey of 116 prostitutes in Thailand and the Philippines, not just the usual demographic of men in their 30s and 40s but males in their late teens and early 20s are going to countries in the region in increasing numbers to buy sex from minors. In addition, some male South Korean college students that have gone there for study reportedly find female minors and exchange sex for a place for the girls to live. The survey was conducted by the Naeil Women's Center for Youth from July to September this year.

Among the prostitutes surveyed, there were some that dreamed of coming to South Korea. Most of them want to get married to their South Korean "boyfriends," but many are abandoned when the South Koreans return to their country. Those that have been impregnated during their relationship with South Koreans become single moms and have to seek help from charitable religious organizations.

In addition, according to the report, 68 percent of the prostitutes surveyed said that they were physically abused by their South Korean "clients" during sexual intercourse. They testified that many Korean men were "obsessed" with having sex with minors, and that they tend to refuse to wear condoms. Some of them also said that Koreans forced them to sell or take drugs.

The Gender Equality and Family Committee of the National Assembly will hold a forum on December 7, where members will listen to a presentation by Filipino women's right activists. During the meeting, news items will be presented regarding female Filipino minors being rescued from Korean-run brothels in the Philippines.

"It is a degradation of human beings to buy sex from minors solely for the sake of temporary pleasure," Rep. Mun Hee said.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]