Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police to Expand Criminal Investigations Targeting Youth

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is expanding criminal investigations targeting youth beyond alcohol and cigarette "daelgu" (proxy purchases) to include youth harmful product (realdoll) experience facilities and lodging establishments that allow cohabitation.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit announced on the 23rd that to promote the healthy growth of youth, it will strengthen investigations into crimes targeting youth, setting this year's main investigation targets as ▲providing youth harmful substances such as proxy purchases ▲allowing youth entry into youth harmful establishments and failure to display entry prohibition signs ▲lodging establishments that facilitate or provide cohabitation for youth of opposite sexes.

Accordingly, the Special Judicial Police will expand the scope of investigations into "proxy purchases" from the metropolitan area to nationwide, and the traded items will be expanded from alcohol and cigarettes to adult products.

"Proxy purchase" refers to the act of purchasing alcohol or cigarettes on behalf of youth who cannot legally buy them, usually for a fee. Since these crimes mainly occur online, related investigative personnel and expertise, such as specialized monitoring and mystery shopping (posing as customers for enforcement), will also be strengthened.

Investigations will also be intensified into youth harmful establishments such as youth harmful product (realdoll) experience facilities that allow youth entry and fail to display prohibition signs. Under current law, youth harmful product (realdoll) experience facilities can operate with just a registration. The problem is that these facilities are located even in residential areas such as densely populated housing districts and school zones, installing promotional signboards and balloon-shaped outdoor advertisements, exposing youth to harmful environments without protection.

Therefore, the Special Judicial Police will strongly take action according to relevant laws against illegal acts such as youth entry and use of youth harmful establishments like realdoll experience facilities and unmanned adult product stores, failure to display entry prohibition signs, and violations of advertising restrictions.

In addition, the Special Judicial Police will investigate lodging establishments that provide or facilitate cohabitation places for youth. Through data collection and monitoring in cooperation with related agencies, they plan to analyze types and locations of youth cohabitation and develop effective investigative techniques.

Kim Young-su, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "Realdolls can cause distorted perceptions and abnormal attitudes toward youth sexuality and may increase the risk of potential sexual crimes. We will fulfill our role through strict investigations so that youth can grow into healthy members of society."