Paju City Holds 'Walking the Travel Path' Event for Citizens to Close Down Red-Light District

On the 12th, Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 13th that it conducted a 'Walking the Travel Path' education program at Yeonpung-ri Cultural Theater, with the participation of about 40 citizens including the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the community leaders' associations of Unjeong 4-dong and Unjeong 5-dong, and the anti-sex trade civic group 'Clearing.'

Paju City conducted a "Walking on the Journey" education session on the 12th at Yeonpung-ri Cultural Theater, with about 40 citizens participating. Provided by Paju City

Started in March 2023, the 'Walking the Travel Path' education is a program that combines sex trade prevention education with walking through areas known for sex trade gatherings. It is an awareness improvement education aimed at actively building consensus among citizens for the closure of sex trade gathering areas and spreading a culture of gender equality.

The citizens who participated that day empathized with the importance of creating a safe community environment free from sex trade, including global anti-sex trade policies by country, the reality of thriving sex trade gathering areas in Paju, and the human rights violations inherent in sex trade, as well as the necessity of closing these gathering areas.

A citizen who took part in the walking program said, "I used to think sex trade was simply illegal and bad, but today's education helped me deeply understand its realities and social issues," adding, "I will take an interest in and join citizen activities aimed at closing the sex trade gathering areas that perpetuate the vicious cycle of sex trade."

The city plans to continue the 'Walking the Travel Path' education until December this year to sustain citizen participation activities for the closure of sex trade gathering areas.