1,400 Real Dolls Held in Customs for 5 Years... 190 Allowed Through Customs

Seo Young-kyo Lawmaker "In-depth Discussion Needed on Production, Distribution, and Use of Real Dolls"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] It has been revealed that the number of imports of "real dolls" (adult products modeled after the human body) whose customs clearance was withheld has exceeded 1,400 cases over the past five years.

According to data received on the 16th from the Korea Customs Service by Seo Young-kyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, the number of customs clearance withholdings for real dolls from 2018 to August this year was 1,414 cases. There were 101 cases in 2018, 356 cases in 2019, 280 cases in 2020, and it increased to 427 cases last year. This year, until August, the number of customs clearance withholdings was 250 cases.

So far, the Korea Customs Service has withheld customs clearance, considering real dolls as items that harm public morals. Importers have filed lawsuits against customs authorities, requesting the cancellation of the customs clearance withholding. Since 2018 until the end of last month, a total of 48 lawsuits were filed challenging the customs clearance withholding of real dolls. Among these, 19 cases resulted in confirmed losses for the Korea Customs Service. Only 2 cases were won by the Customs Service. There were 21 cases dismissed or withdrawn, and 6 cases are still ongoing.

As courts have consecutively ruled to allow customs clearance, citing reasons such as minimizing state intervention in private matters, the Korea Customs Service recently decided to permit customs clearance for products depicting only parts of the body rather than the entire body among real dolls. Accordingly, the number of customs clearance cases for real dolls recorded 190 cases over two months since the end of June.

Lawmaker Seo Young-kyo said, "The Korea Customs Service must continuously monitor whether there are any tricks to import full-body real dolls by dividing them into parts after allowing customs clearance for partial-body real dolls." She added, "Discussions should not focus solely on whether to allow customs clearance for real dolls that depict minors or specific individuals, or full-body real dolls. Since legislation related to real dolls has been proposed, in-depth discussions on the overall issues of production, distribution, and use of real dolls are necessary with the National Assembly, relevant ministries, and the public."