Spontaneous Correction and Business Closure of Illegal Buildings Spread in Sex Trade Districts

Administrative Enforcement Drive Gains Momentum Following Administrative Litigation Victory
Increase in Voluntary Demolition by Building Owners

As part of the closure of the prostitution district, administrative enforcement is underway in the Yeonpung-ri prostitution district in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, where a growing atmosphere of voluntary correction and business closure among building owners is spreading.

Building owners of the red-light district in Paju City are voluntarily carrying out demolition. Photo by Paju City

Currently, the prostitution district has undergone a total of six rounds of administrative enforcement starting with the first enforcement on November 1, 2023, conducted jointly by city officials, related organizations, and specialized companies. Among the 15 buildings subject to enforcement, five have been fully corrected, and ten have been partially corrected. Regarding this, five administrative lawsuits between the building owners within the district and Paju-si have all been won by Paju-si, with two appeals currently in progress.

With Paju-si’s consecutive victories in the six rounds of enforcement and administrative lawsuits, the number of building owners voluntarily demolishing their properties and businesses ceasing operations within the prostitution district continues to increase, with voluntary demolitions underway at a total of 28 locations.

One building owner who owns property within the district stated, “Due to the city’s continuous administrative enforcement and successive lawsuit defeats, an atmosphere is forming among building owners to close businesses and renovate buildings to shed the stigma of being a prostitution district. Some building owners are making efforts to evict workers through relocation measures.”

A Paju-si official emphasized, “The court rulings reflecting Paju-si’s position are a natural outcome. If voluntary demolition is not carried out on major buildings currently operating, including those whose construction was halted due to lawsuits, we will continue administrative enforcement without interruption and strongly proceed with the redevelopment.”