Paju-si Executes 8th Administrative Enforcement on Sex Trade District... Aiming for Closure Within the Year

Seven Business Spaces Demolished as Main Focus

Paju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Kyung-il) announced on the 4th that it has once again firmly confirmed its strong will to demolish illegal buildings and close the prostitution district within Yeonpung-ri by carrying out the 8th large-scale administrative enforcement against illegal buildings in the prostitution district.

Paju City is carrying out the 8th administrative enforcement against illegal buildings within the Yeonpung-ri red-light district. Photo by Paju City

The 8th large-scale administrative enforcement, conducted from March 31 to April 2, mobilized a total of 300 personnel and equipment over three days, including 150 contracted workers, 15 city officials, and cooperating personnel from the fire station and Paju Police Station. Demolition was carried out on 7 out of 11 illegal buildings, and the remaining 4 buildings were voluntarily demolished.

The enforcement targeted 9 buildings that were still in operation, raising concerns about intense resistance such as the weapon-related incident that occurred during the 7th enforcement last November. However, through Paju City's proactive preliminary measures, including on-site consultations with building owners and business operators before the enforcement, the operation was completed without resistance or safety accidents.

The administrative enforcement aims to close businesses by partially demolishing illegal waiting rooms and auxiliary facilities closely related to prostitution operations, rather than residential spaces. Moving forward, continuous administrative enforcement and re-imposition of compliance fines will be conducted simultaneously to ensure the early closure of the prostitution district through strong administrative measures.

Currently, out of 82 buildings targeted for administrative enforcement, 70 buildings (85.4%) have been maintained through partial demolition or other measures: 28 buildings through administrative enforcement, 40 buildings through voluntary correction by owners, and 2 buildings through city-led demolition. The number of operating buildings, which was about 80 in 2023, has significantly decreased to fewer than 25 after the administrative enforcement.

A Paju City official stated, “We plan to focus administrative efforts to ensure the prostitution district is closed within the year by actively encouraging voluntary correction by building owners and business closures through continuous administrative enforcement centered on remaining illegal business spaces and re-imposition of compliance fines.”