Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on October 22 that it held the 18th Self-Sufficiency Support Committee for Victims of Prostitution and selected a total of two individuals as new recipients of self-sufficiency support. Since the first selection of a recipient in May 2023, the total number of beneficiaries has now increased to 22.
Notably, the city explained that seven out of the total 22 recipients-about 32%-were selected between July and October of this year. This increase is attributed to recent amendments to the relevant ordinance and enforcement rules, which have broadened both the support period and the eligibility criteria.
In fact, Paju City partially revised the "Ordinance on Self-Sufficiency Support for Victims of Prostitution and Others" and its enforcement rules, which were enacted in 2023. The revisions expanded eligibility to include anyone identified as a victim of prostitution in Paju City, regardless of the period of victimization, and extended the support period from the previous two years to three years.
As a result, the newly selected recipients are now eligible for support of up to 71.8 million won, the largest amount offered nationwide. This is an increase of approximately 40% from the previous maximum of 50.2 million won. The city expects that this expanded support will significantly help victims of prostitution establish stable economic foundations and prepare for long-term independence and reintegration into society.
Han Kyunghee, Director of the Women and Family Division, stated, "Self-sufficiency for victims of prostitution cannot be achieved in a short period of time, so systematic support and management from a long-term perspective are essential. We will continue to do our utmost to help victims achieve genuine independence through ongoing policy improvements and implementation."
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