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Women’s rights groups hold a press conference regarding compensation and support for survivors of US military camptown prostitution at the Gyeonggi Province Council on Apr. 29. (Hong Yong-duk, South Gyeonggi correspondent)

The Gyeonggi Province Council voted at a plenary session on Apr. 29 to approve an ordinance “for the support, etc., of survivors of military prostitutionin in Gyeonggi Province US military camp towns” sponsored by Democratic Party council member Kim Jong-chan (Anyang 2). This marks the first time a local government has been enacted to survivors of military camptown prostitution in communities around US Forces Korea bases.

The ordinance includes various forms of administrative and financial assistance from the province to support livelihood stability for survivors of military prostitution, including housing benefits such as rental deposit support and priority rental housing supplies; payment of a livelihood stability allowance; and medical benefits and assistance with funeral and nursing costs. The beneficiaries are to include survivors of military prostitution near US military bases within the province between the time of USFK’s stationing in South Korea and the September 2004 enactment of the Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts, etc. The number of survivors of military prostitution within Gyeonggi Province is estimated at around 350.

Explaining the reasons for enacting the ordinance, Kim Jong-chan said it was ended to “provide some minimal support before it’s too late at a time when survivors of military camptown prostitution are now elderly and struggling with health and livelihood issues.”

In a case filed against the state by 117 survivors of military camptown prostitution to demand damages, Seoul High Court ruled on Feb. 8, 2018, to order the payment of 3 to 7 million won (US$2,491-5,812) plus interest as compensation to them.

“The Republic of Korea bears responsibility for actively justifying or promoting prostitution in its operation of US military camp towns for the sake of the military alliance and the acquisition of foreign currency,” the court said at the time.

The Alliance for Camp Town Women’s Human Rights, the Gyeonggi Women’s Network, and other groups held a press conference that afternoon at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly briefing room.

“Since the human rights of survivors of military camptown prostitution first emerged as an issue with the murder of Yoon Kum-yi [a sex worker who was brutally murdered by an American soldier in 1992], it has truly been a long journey toward a resolution with the Gyeonggi Province ordinance today,” they said.

“We look forward to the 21st National Assembly passing a special law to investigate issues and provide support in connection with military camptown sex industry ,” they added.

By Hong Yong-duk, South Gyeonggi correspondent

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