Protest by Organizations Including Suwon Women's Hotline, Press Conference
"This event is a serious sexual violence as it treats women as sexual objects and consumes women's bodies as 'play'."
As an adult festival is scheduled to be held in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, women's organizations and civic groups have claimed it as sexual exploitation and demanded its cancellation. The Suwon Women's Organization Network, consisting of seven women's groups including Suwon Women's Hotline, and the Suwon Civic Society Council, which includes about 30 civic groups, held a press conference in front of Suwon Station Cultural Plaza on the 12th.
They released a press statement titled "Strongly Condemning the Adult Expo 2024 KXF The Fashion for Sexual Commodification of Women's Bodies and Sexual Acts." The event, hosted by 'Playjoker,' is known to invite actors from domestic and Japanese adult films to hold fan signings and lingerie fashion show performances. From the ticket purchase stage, adult verification is required, and access by minors is controlled on-site.
The groups emphasized, "This is merely a space that promotes a culture normalizing prostitution to satisfy men's sexual desires, a place that sexually exploits women," and demanded, "Immediately stop holding events that exploit and commodify women's sexuality."
The related event is scheduled to be held for two days starting next month on the 20th at Suwon Messe, a private exhibition hall in Seodun-dong, Gwonseon-gu. Following the event held in Gwangmyeong City last December, this is the second time. Attendees who have passed adult verification pay an entrance fee to participate, receive autographs from Japanese adult video (AV) actors, take photos together, and watch lingerie fashion shows.
Seopyeong Elementary School is located just about 50 meters from the adult festival venue. Since elementary school students frequently pass by this area, there have reportedly been some objections among local residents.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a Suwon city official said, "About 1,000 people participated in the Gwangmyeong event, but this time about 10,000 participants are expected. Since it is rented from a private exhibition hall, we cannot intervene, but we hope citizens refrain from participating as it is expected to have a negative impact on youth education."
Previously, at the KOVAS 2023 event held at Kintex in Goyang City last July, controversy arose when electronic cigarette brand names and promotional materials for Japanese adult film actors' fan signings were posted outside the venue where youth could see them.
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