Suwon→Paju→Seoul 3 Consecutive Failures
Women, Citizens, and Parents Unite Saying "No Compromise"
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has effectively denied permission for an adult festival featuring Japanese AV (Adult Video) actors to be held at a riverside cafe within Hangang Park. This event was previously canceled in Suwon and Paju due to opposition from residents and local governments.
According to industry sources on the 13th, the Future Hangang Headquarters sent a notice to the operator of the Askruise (a floating bar located on the Hangang River in front of Jamwon Hangang Park Parking Lot 1), the venue announced by the adult festival '2024 KXF The Fashion' (hereafter KXF), prohibiting illegal activities.
After KXF's booking at Suwon Messe was canceled on the 4th due to backlash from about 40 women's and civic groups and parents, the organizers announced they would hold the event at the K-Art Studio in Paju, located on the edge of an industrial complex near the DMZ and away from schools.
However, on the following day, the 5th, Paju City held an emergency countermeasure meeting and strongly opposed the event, stating, "We will take all measures to cancel the event," leading to another cancellation of the booking.
Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju, said, "AV objectifies women's bodies with excessive exposure and produces videos that promote sexual assault," adding, "We will mobilize all available administrative power to work with citizens to stop the adult festival."
Lee Hee-tae, CEO of Playjoker and the event organizer, stated, "If Suwon and Paju had requested dialogue, we would have responded sufficiently and were willing to adjust the event's content, but neither local government made any attempt to negotiate."
Officials from Suwon and Paju commonly responded, "From the perspective of youth protection, this event is not subject to negotiation," emphasizing, "The purpose of the event is clear, so there is no room for compromise such as adjusting the content."
The cases of Suwon, which took the extreme measure of administrative enforcement, and Paju, which vowed to mobilize all possible administrative power to block the event, have received support from women's, civic, and parent groups, making it difficult for the local governments in charge to remain passive.
The adult festival charges about 90,000 KRW per adult for admission. Only those who have undergone adult verification and purchased tickets can participate. The event features lingerie shows by adult film actors, fan signings, and dance performances. Last December, a similar event held in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, invited many Japanese AV actors.
The Future Hangang Headquarters stated, "The adult festival raises concerns about distorting adult perceptions and inducing sexual crimes, potentially harming public morals," and requested strict management, citing the River Act and the Cable and Ferry Business Act regulations to prohibit the holding of the adult festival.
They added, "If the event is held in violation, legal action, cancellation of lease approval, and revocation of river occupation permits may be taken according to the law."
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