[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The youth curfew zone set around the Suwon Station red-light district in Gyeonggi-do has been lifted after 22 years.
Suwon City announced on the 28th that the "Youth Curfew Zone" designated on July 1997 in the area of 23, Deokyeong-daero 895beon-gil, Paldal-gu, known as the Suwon Station red-light district, has been lifted as of the 27th.
Suwon City judged that the former Suwon Station red-light district, where environmental improvements such as the opening of fire lanes, demolition of buildings, and remodeling construction have been carried out, no longer threatens youth safety. After collecting opinions from residents, police, and city council members, the city officially announced the lifting of the designation.
The Suwon Station red-light district gradually formed in the 1960s in Godeung-dong and Maesan-ro 1-ga, where Suwon Station and the bus terminal were located.
In January 2019, Suwon City established the Suwon Station Street Maintenance Promotion Team, and as fire lane construction began within the red-light district from January this year, public opinion for closure grew, leading all sex work establishments to voluntarily close on the night of May 31.
Suwon City plans to remove all curfew notice signs installed in the area by the end of this month.
Kim Hyun-kwang, Director of the Culture, Sports and Education Bureau of Suwon City, emphasized, "We will make the Suwon Station area a place where all citizens, including youth, can walk and meet people freely at any time," adding, "We will create an urban environment where youth can live safely."
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