"Please Meet Something Alive"... Mom Horrified by 'This' in Son's Studio Apartment, Hits Him

Mixed Reactions from Netizens Over Real Dolls
Need for Social Consensus on the Sex Industry
Regulation and Supervision Bills Still Pending in the National Assembly

A story has surfaced about a person who was beaten severely by their mother because of a Real Doll, an adult doll modeled after the female body, sparking a widespread debate about the sexual objectification related to Real Dolls.

On the 9th, an online community posted a message titled "I was beaten to death by my mother for the first time since I was born," along with a photo. The photo showed a Real Doll placed in what is presumed to be the author's room, accompanied by a brief message saying, "My mother told me to meet a living person... Should I sell it again?" Netizens responded with comments such as "I understand the mother's feelings," and "Both the mother and the author must feel really embarrassed and deeply ashamed." Meanwhile, some netizens expressed strong disgust and criticism toward the man’s ownership of the Real Doll.

Possession of real dolls shaped like children or adolescents can lead to punishment under the Act on the Protection of Children and Adolescents Against Sexual Abuse. However, there is a practical difficulty in detecting such cases. Considering that in the case of partial body types, detection is not possible even when they are imported separately and then reassembled for use, it is difficult for the Korea Customs Service to catch all real dolls shaped like minors.
[Photo by Kim Dahee, Asia Economy]

Meanwhile, in June, a restaurant employee in the United States was fired after filming a customer dining with a Real Doll (adult doll) and posting it on social media. In Japan, a local government faced controversy after displaying a Real Doll, an adult product modeled after the female body, at an airport under the pretext of attracting tourists.

Easy to Import, but No Way to Regulate Real Dolls

Real Dolls are dolls primarily designed to imitate the appearance and skin texture of women. They are often used for sexual purposes. While there have been strong objections pointing to the sexual objectification of women, there is also significant opposition to banning them. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in a lawsuit filed by a Real Doll import company that, "Although the appearance gives a licentious impression, it cannot be evaluated as seriously damaging human dignity and value," and added, "Sexual devices are used in very private spaces, and the state should avoid interference in such intimate personal activities as much as possible to realize human dignity and freedom. It is necessary to be very cautious about treating sexual devices as obscene items and banning their import altogether."

Real dolls are mainly dolls designed to mimic the appearance and skin texture of women. They are often used for sexual purposes. There has also been strong opposition to the criticism that they sexualize women.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Korea Customs Service allowed the import of Real Dolls except for full-body Real Dolls that are clearly recognized or mistaken as children or adolescents, Real Dolls modeled after specific individuals, and those requiring safety verification as of December 2022. However, the criteria remain vague, and there are no appropriate penalties, so various types of Real Dolls are openly distributed through online shopping malls and other channels.

Possession of Real Dolls shaped like children or adolescents can lead to punishment under the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse. However, it is practically difficult to detect such cases. Considering that partial-body types can be imported separately and assembled later, it is challenging for the Customs Service to catch all Real Dolls resembling minors. Although importing has become easier than before, there are still no laws or standards defining Real Dolls. A bill to regulate minor Real Dolls is pending in the National Assembly. Voices are calling for regulation based on social consensus that, even while guaranteeing individual sexual freedom, minors must not be sexually objectified.