Police Crack Down on Real Doll Experience Room Ads Citing Youth Protection
Concerns Over 'Extreme Sexual Objectification' in Real Doll Usage Process
Protest held in September 2019 against the Supreme Court's ruling allowing the import of real dolls [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "It's not just about relieving sexual desire!", "Why are people so sensitive about real dolls..."
As the police crack down on advertisements for real doll experience rooms, a separate controversy over the use of real dolls has flared up again. Real dolls are sex toys shaped similarly to the human body, with opinions divided between those who see them as merely tools for satisfying sexual urges and critics who argue that extreme sexual objectification can occur in the process, ultimately infringing on women's rights.
Kim, a male office worker in his 40s, expressed disbelief at such controversy. Kim said, "If there really was a problem, wouldn't the government have banned the import of real dolls?" He added, "Everyone has different opinions, but one-sided claims are excessive criticism."
In line with Kim's assertion, the court ruled that real dolls do not violate human dignity. On July 29 last year, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Kim Sang-hwan) upheld the lower court's ruling in favor of Company A in a lawsuit against Incheon Customs, which had withheld clearance for the import of real dolls.
At that time, the appellate court acknowledged that "when observed as a whole, the appearance of the real doll gives a rather vulgar and licentious impression," but also stated, "It cannot be considered that it explicitly depicts or portrays sexual organs or acts in a manner that seriously damages or distorts human dignity and value," thereby ruling in favor of Company A.
The court further emphasized, "Sex toys are merely tools secretly used to satisfy the user's sexual desires, and Korean law does not generally regulate sex toys. Furthermore, this is based on the recognition that state intervention in individuals' private and secret domains should be minimized."
However, many women still point out that extreme sexual objectification of women occurs during the use of real dolls. A post criticizing this was also uploaded on the Blue House's public petition board.
One petitioner urged, "Please ban the import and sale of real dolls." The petitioner criticized, "The Supreme Court allowed the import of real dolls as long as they do not seriously damage or distort human dignity," adding, "They say real dolls do not violate human dignity, but it is actually the dignity of men that is not violated."
The petitioner continued, "If the real doll resembled a male figure, would they still say it does not violate human dignity?" and questioned, "People who use tools that have women's faces and bodies but no movement, allowing them to be used sexually at will, can they really see actual women as fellow human beings?" They called for a ban on the import and sale of real dolls.
Experts also expressed concerns that extreme sexual objectification could occur during the use of real dolls. Professor Yoon Ji-young of Konkuk University's Body Culture Research Institute pointed out in her paper "Real Dolls, Eroticism of Domination" that "If women use devices to focus on what their own bodies feel, there is a clear difference from male-oriented adult products like real dolls, which focus on dominating the female body."
Additionally, Seo Seung-hee, director of the Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Center, stated in an interview with CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "Real dolls are not simply reproductions of women but make women feel that they live in a world where the existence of women is reduced to objects for satisfying men's sexual desires." She reiterated, "This constitutes an infringement on women's personal rights."
Real dolls, which have been embroiled in such controversies, recently sparked another debate by including options to select a female hymen as a sales option. Previously, a real doll company allowed customers to choose a female hymen option, which increased the purchase price of the real doll. Women criticized this as not merely about sexual desire relief but as an extreme denigration of women.
Park, a female university student in her 20s, said, "Isn't a real doll just a simple sex toy?" She expressed frustration, "How can anyone understand that adding a female hymen option increases the price of the real doll? It can only be seen as a wrong perception of women by men."
Meanwhile, regarding concerns about extreme sexual objectification of women that may occur during the use of real dolls, Professor Yoon pointed out in her paper, "There is no consideration at all of how the female body being shaped as a tool for men's treatment and sexual desire relief causes personal rights violations or psychological and physical harm to women, or in what ways it can be a traumatic factor."
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