Paju-si, Citizen Activity Education 'Walking on the Travel Path' Wraps Up 2024 Activities

Meaningful Conclusion at Key Facility in Prostitution District... Sharing Activity Achievements
Since First Training in 2023, 3,300 Participants Over 56 Sessions... Played Major Role in Expanding Public Consensus

The 2024 ‘Walking the Travel Path (A Path Where Women and Citizens Are Happy)’ education program for the closure of the sex trade district in Paju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Kyung-il) concluded on the 17th with the participation and interest of many citizens.

The 2024 'Walking the Travel Path' education program aimed at closing the red-light district in Paju City concluded on the 17th with the participation and interest of many citizens. Photo by Paju City

The education took place at a hub facility being developed for citizen education within the sex trade district and small-scale exhibition spaces for citizen convenience. Participants had the opportunity to directly experience the necessity of closing the sex trade district.

In particular, about 40 members of the anti-sex trade citizen activity group ‘Clearing,’ composed of the Paju City Women’s Association, parents, anti-sex trade prevention education instructors, and citizen groups supporting the closure of the sex trade district, participated in the education. Along with education to improve awareness of sex trade, they had a ‘small talk’ session. This session provided a meaningful time to share the achievements of activities for the closure of the sex trade district over the past year and exchange opinions.

A citizen who attended the education said, “I once heard a parent from Yeonpung-ri say they felt guilty about their child growing up in such an environment and wanted to move to Munsan or Unjeong,” adding, “To create a community that develops together, the sex trade district must be closed.”

The ‘Walking the Travel Path’ education is a citizen participation program designed to form an active consensus among citizens and spread a culture of gender equality to complete the closure of the sex trade district and establish a women-friendly city in Paju. Since the first education session began in February 2023, a total of 56 sessions have been held with over 3,300 participants, greatly contributing to raising citizens’ interest and consensus for the closure of the sex trade district.

Paju City plans to continue strengthening citizen activities for the closure of the sex trade district next year by conducting ‘Walking the Travel Path’ education, night owl activities, sex trade prevention campaigns, and more.