Court Rules "Import Allowed"... Debate Continues Over Real Doll Imports
Petitioner States "Selling, Buying, and Possessing Real Dolls Is a Normal Act"
"Customs Office Denies Clearance Despite Precedent"
Real doll. Photo source unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Amid a Supreme Court ruling allowing the import of 'real dolls,' a public petition has emerged calling for the Customs Service to be stopped from refusing the clearance of real dolls.
Real dolls are adult products modeled after the female body, and following a court ruling that there is no issue with their import, debates have ensued surrounding the matter.
On the 27th, a petition titled "Please stop the Customs Service from unconditionally refusing the clearance of real dolls, ignoring the Constitution and the judiciary" was posted on the Blue House petition board.
The petitioner argued that real dolls, "except in special cases where they clearly cause harm to others, are sexual devices used privately by individuals, and their import, sale, purchase, and possession should be considered normal acts."
The petitioner continued, "In general social norms, the Supreme Court has firmly stated that real dolls do not harm public morals," and stated, "Refusing the clearance of real dolls is clearly an act by the state that infringes on individual happiness without just cause."
On the 27th, a public petition appeared requesting to stop the Korea Customs Service from refusing the clearance of "real dolls." Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition capture.
They cited Article 17 of the Constitution, which states that "All citizens shall have the right to privacy and freedom from infringement," and Article 10, which states that "All citizens shall have dignity and worth as human beings and the right to pursue happiness."
The petitioner claimed, "Despite relevant precedents, the Customs Service fundamentally blocks all imports of real dolls under the principle of refusing clearance. They guide importers to file individual administrative lawsuits if they want clearance," adding, "Even though the likelihood of losing is quite high, they appeal and drag the case through three trials repeatedly, wasting taxpayers' money on litigation costs."
The petitioner also refuted claims that the use of real dolls induces sexual crimes. They said, "It is an absurd notion to pre-judge the public as fools who cannot distinguish right from wrong," and raised their voice, saying, "The public is not foolish enough to confuse dolls with real women."
They added, "The very attempt by the Customs Service to teach this fact is an overreach," and "Please do not ignore the opinions of those who want the product and normalize the import of real dolls."
On the afternoon of September 28, 2019, participants are shouting slogans at the 'Protest Against the Ruling Allowing Real Doll Imports' held at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Legal disputes and social controversies surrounding real dolls began to intensify around 2019.
When customs authorities withheld clearance of real dolls citing the Customs Act, which prohibits the import and export of "items that harm public morals," the real doll import company filed a lawsuit. The company lost in the first trial but won in the appellate court and the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court stated, "Real dolls are not obscene materials but sexual devices used privately and discreetly by adults," emphasizing that state intervention should be minimized and import bans should be very carefully considered.
However, controversy escalated after it was revealed that some adult product companies advertised custom-made real dolls.
There were real dolls resembling celebrities or elementary school students, and some real dolls even had vaginal membranes made, with an option to select the vaginal membrane at a higher price. The vaginal membrane was labeled as 'cheongnyomak' (virgin membrane). If a male customer chose the virgin membrane option, the purchase price increased.
Women's groups expressed concerns that "it could promote extreme sexual objectification of women and be misused," while some men argued that "it is merely a device to satisfy sexual desires," and the controversy over the import of real dolls continues.
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