Sex Workers Complain About Low Government Support Funds
Received 6.5 Million Won... "Should Give at Least 12 Million Won"
A woman working at a sex trade establishment in an officetel has sparked controversy by complaining that the government support funds are excessively low.
On the 21st, a post titled "Are the sisters who received the support money satisfied?" was uploaded on an online community. This community is exclusively for women working in the sex trade, and the author, Ms. A, who verified her employment, began by saying, "I received 6.5 million won in support funds for sex trade victims, but it’s much less than I expected."
Ms. A said, "At first, I thought they would give at least 12 million won, so I wasn’t going to go to work, but I’m disappointed," adding, "They said the 6.5 million won isn’t given monthly, but just once, so I decided to rest this month and told the manager I wouldn’t engage in sex trade, but now I regret it." She continued, "Since the amount is small, I’m thinking of going back to work right away," and expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "If they want us to quit sex work, they should at least give proper money. They just brag about 'helping us quit sex work' and pretend to support us."
Netizens who read the story responded negatively, saying things like, "Complaining about the money being low when they don’t even work openly," "Who told them to take that job," "They’re giving 6.5 million won," "That’s more than my monthly salary," "I don’t understand why they’re even being supported," "Why do they call themselves victims when they buy and sell sex by choice," "They should be ashamed," "Why post this as if it’s something to be proud of," "That money should be used to support vulnerable groups like single-parent families or low-income households," and "So that’s where my taxes are going."
Previously, the government has been providing welfare services such as counseling centers and legal, medical, housing, and facility support under the "Act on the Prevention of Prostitution and Protection of Victims (Sex Trade Victim Protection Act)" to protect and support the independence of sex trade victims and those who have engaged in selling sex. Regarding housing support, sex trade victims who meet certain criteria can live in rental housing, with the national and local governments supporting the costs necessary for securing and operating such rental housing. Additionally, the government supports sex trade victims in leaving the sex trade and becoming self-reliant by providing education, counseling, and training for exiting the sex trade and offering support for independence.
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