Experience Rooms Renting Real Dolls Spread to Downtown Areas
Business Allowed If Not Within 200m of Schools Under Current Law
"Should a Child Just Learning Hangul Read 'Real Doll'?" Citizens Outraged
Flyer containing information about the real doll experience room. / Photo by Internet Community Capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "I was shocked to find such a business openly operating among ordinary buildings," "What am I supposed to say when children ask, 'What is a real doll?'"
The controversy over "real doll experience rooms"?which rent out "real dolls" (adult products modeled after the human body)?is growing as they spread into residential and commercial areas. Under current law, real doll experience rooms can operate as long as they are not within 200 meters of a school, but there are concerns that advertisements and signs are exposed in places frequently visited by children and adolescents, causing harm. Amid the rising controversy, the police plan to crack down on these establishments.
On the 31st of last month, a petition was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board requesting the shutdown of real doll experience rooms in busy commercial districts. The petitioner, a resident of Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, stated, "A 24-hour unmanned real doll experience center is opening in the middle of a commercial district," and explained, "Nearby are two movie theaters, a children's traffic park 7 minutes on foot (410m), a children's park 4 minutes on foot (221m), and a daycare center 9 minutes on foot (553m)."
He added, "Many children and adolescents pass through this area," and criticized, "However, Uijeongbu claims there is no basis for enforcement because there are no educational facilities within 200 meters."
The petitioner also pointed out the advertising activities of the real doll experience rooms. He said, "Just searching the three letters 'real doll' on the internet shows it as an inappropriate term for adolescents," and criticized, "Should a child who has just learned to read Korean have to read the words 'real doll experience room' on a sign? Is it acceptable for irresponsible adults to satisfy their sexual desires with a 135 cm doll the size of a child without any guilt or hesitation?"
He continued, "I am afraid of when and how this wrong perception of sexuality, satisfied through dolls, will be directed toward people," and urged, "Please make sure such businesses can no longer take root in South Korea." As of 7:30 a.m. on the 7th, this petition had received over 18,000 endorsements.
The number of 'Real Doll Experience Rooms' that rent out adult products depicting the human body, called real dolls, is increasing. / Photo by Yonhap News
Currently, operating a real doll experience room is not illegal. According to the current Educational Environment Protection Act, businesses can operate as long as they are not within 200 meters of a school-designated "educational environment protection zone."
The problem is that as the number of real doll experience rooms increases, advertisements for real dolls have started to appear in residential and commercial areas frequently visited by children and adolescents. There are concerns that adolescents exposed to real doll-related advertisements may develop distorted sexual perceptions.
Civic opinions on advertisements for real doll experience rooms are sharply divided. Some argue that restrictions are necessary because of the potential negative impact on children, while others believe they should be allowed if the business is not illegal.
A 30-year-old office worker, Mr. A, said, "I am often surprised to see real doll experience rooms openly operating among ordinary commercial buildings," and added, "Most adult product stores operate discreetly, so why should real doll experience rooms be an exception? The businesses themselves should reduce advertising or appropriate regulations are needed."
Ms. B, a 35-year-old office worker with children, expressed concern, saying, "As a parent, I find it difficult to answer when my children ask, 'What is a real doll?'" and added, "Children in their formative years are sensitive and greatly influenced by their surroundings. I worry that growing up seeing such adult products might lead to distorted sexual awareness."
On the afternoon of September 28, 2019, women participants hold placards at a protest condemning the court ruling allowing the import of real dolls, held at Cheonggye Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul. The participants condemned the judiciary for the ruling permitting the import of real dolls (adult products for men modeled after the actual appearance of women) and urged the government to take administrative measures and propose legislation regarding this issue. / Photo by Yonhap News
On the other hand, there are rebuttals stating that there is no problem as long as it is not illegal. Mr. C, a 31-year-old office worker, said, "I think real dolls can be somewhat unpleasant," but pointed out, "No one has actually been harmed, and banning something simply because it makes people uncomfortable without any other reason is wrong."
Amid the growing controversy, the police plan to conduct a large-scale crackdown on illegal activities related to real doll experience room operations in cooperation with local governments.
On the 6th, the National Police Agency announced that, together with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and local governments, it will conduct joint crackdowns on illegal activities such as online and offline advertising, misuse, and facility modifications of real doll experience rooms from the 7th until July 31.
The police have established the basis for these crackdowns in cooperation with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, based on the Youth Protection Act and other laws. Accordingly, real doll experience rooms that display signs or advertisements containing information such as phone numbers, addresses, maps, or internet addresses in places accessible to the public may be subject to penalties for violating the Youth Protection Act.
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