Gwangju City 'Sex Trade Eradication Week' Prevention Campaign

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City is conducting a campaign to raise awareness about the illegality of prostitution in observance of the "Prostitution Eradication Week."

Prostitution Eradication Week is legally designated from September 19 to 25 every year under the "Act on the Prevention of Prostitution and Protection of Victims," during which various prostitution prevention activities are carried out.

This year, due to the overlap with the Chuseok holiday, the campaign period will be extended until October.

During this eradication week, marking the 17th anniversary of the enforcement of the Prostitution Prevention Act, activities such as campaigns, image poster exhibitions, and podcasts will be held under the slogan "Our attention protects a daily life without prostitution."

On the 24th, together with women's organizations such as the Gwangju Women's Human Rights Support Center and Gwangju Women's Hotline, a silent campaign was conducted at four locations including Chungjang-ro Post Office and 5·18 Democracy Square, targeting citizens with placards addressing the structural problems of prostitution and demand suppression.

Additionally, 15 image posters aimed at preventing prostitution and raising awareness of the seriousness of prostitution issues will be exhibited from the 24th to the 30th in the lobby of Seo-gu Office on the first floor, and from the 30th to October 7 in the citizen hall on the first floor of City Hall.

A podcast will also be produced to improve citizens' awareness of prostitution.

Panels will be formed on topics such as digital sex crimes, youth prostitution, and the structure of sexual exploitation, as well as the status of women's human rights, and audio content will be created and broadcast on the radio in October.

Gwangju City is promoting various projects to eradicate prostitution and support victim rescue, including support for closing prostitution hotspots, operating counseling centers for prostitution victims, and supporting the independence of victims.

Jung Jong-im, head of the Women's and Family Division of the city, said, "We hope that Gwangju citizens will recognize that prostitution is illegal," and added, "We will do our best in prevention projects so that a daily life without prostitution, as stated in this year's Prostitution Eradication Week slogan, can be established."