Evicted Women Demand: "The State That Neglected Sexual Exploitation in Mia-ri Must Provide Support Measures"

Press Conference by the Joint Committee for Support Measures for Women in Prostitution Areas

As the forced demolition of the so-called "Mia-ri Texas" has begun, women's organizations have called for the establishment of support measures for women engaged in prostitution from a human rights perspective. They argued that the state must take responsibility for having neglected and condoned red-light districts for a long period of time.

According to Yonhap News on April 22, women's organizations such as the National Solidarity for Solving the Prostitution Issue and the Korean Women's Associations United held a press conference in front of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno District, announcing the launch of the "Joint Countermeasures Committee for Supporting Women in the Mia-ri Red-Light District" (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Committee).

The Joint Countermeasures Committee for Supporting Women in the Mia-ri Red-Light District is holding a press conference on the 22nd in front of the Government Seoul Office, urging measures to close Mia-ri Texas. Photo by Yonhap News

The Joint Committee was established by around 10 women's organizations, including the National Solidarity for Solving the Prostitution Issue, the Korean Women's Associations United, Korea Women's Hotline, and the Korean Women Workers Association. They called on the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Seongbuk District to allocate budgets for supporting women in prostitution, to formulate support measures for those exiting prostitution and achieving self-sufficiency, and to establish support systems at the local level.

The Mia-ri red-light district was formed in the late 1960s, and around the 2000s, there were more than 360 establishments and over 3,000 women who were victims of prostitution. Currently, about 50 establishments and approximately 200 women remain.

The Joint Countermeasures Committee for Supporting Women in the Mia-ri Red-Light District is holding a press conference on the 22nd in front of the Government Seoul Office, urging measures to close Mia-ri Texas.

They stated that supporting women in red-light districts is a "duty of the state." Kim Minmunjeong, the Standing Representative of the Korean Women's Associations United, said, "The state has committed state violence that infringes on human dignity by designating 'certain areas,' including US military camp towns, and in effect permitting, encouraging, and justifying prostitution." She continued, "The first thing the state must do to close red-light districts is not redevelopment, but to establish recovery measures for women who have been victims of prostitution," and added, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Seongbuk District must develop alternatives so that women in prostitution can achieve genuine exit and independence."

Representative Kim pointed out that while the state has defined prostitution as illegal, it has in effect condoned and encouraged prostitution in certain areas such as camp towns. As a result, the human dignity of women in prostitution has been violated, which, according to Kim, constitutes state-perpetrated violence.

After the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to redevelop Sinwol-gok District 1, which includes the Mia-ri red-light district, full-scale demolition began in December last year. The first phase of demolition was completed in February this year, and the second phase is scheduled to continue until June. Most of the prostitution businesses are located in the third phase area, where demolition is planned to begin in July after tenants have relocated.

No Rangjoa, an activist from Eroom Anti-Prostitution Human Rights Action, said, "Women working in red-light districts are not disposable commodities to be discarded when they are no longer useful," and added, "The state, which has condoned the sex industry through a dual attitude of cracking down on prostitution while simultaneously controlling and managing red-light districts, cannot be free from responsibility."

On this day, the Joint Committee requested a meeting with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and also submitted a petition signed by citizens. The organization urged the effective implementation of relevant ordinances and systems, stating, "Measures must be put in place so that women in prostitution can relocate stably and establish a livelihood without relying on prostitution."

Meanwhile, some women who were forcibly evicted from Mia-ri Texas are currently staging a sit-in protest in tents in front of Seongbuk District Office, demanding that relocation measures be provided.

As these women did not comply with the notice to voluntarily vacate by the previous day, Seongbuk District Office has issued an administrative execution notice, setting a deadline of 6 p.m. on the 28th.