Some Local Governments Provide Up to 52 Million Won in Support
Criticism Raised: "Are Sex Workers Really 'Victims'?"
A post is spreading online in which a former prostitution worker receiving support funds for leaving the sex trade claims that a reduction in the subsidy has disrupted her travel plans to Europe. Local governments provide financial assistance to those identified as willing to exit prostitution, in accordance with municipal ordinances. However, there is controversy over classifying voluntary sex workers as "victims," as well as criticism about using these subsidies for leisure activities such as travel.
On the 24th, a post by a user identifying as a former prostitution worker was uploaded to an online community. The writer stated, "I received 5.4 million won in December as a support payment for victims of prostitution. Until last month, I was getting 6.2 million won each time, but I don't know why it decreased," adding, "I'm currently traveling in Europe, so I have a lot of expenses."
The writer went on to say that she would return to Korea and immediately start working again after Christmas. She commented, "A reduction of 800,000 won feels significant. I need to return to Korea quickly and start working right away," and added, "I have a mortgage and a car loan. If they're going to make me take a break from work, they should at least pay me properly. They keep changing their minds." This appears to suggest that despite receiving support funds for leaving prostitution, she intends to return to sex work upon her return to Korea due to insufficient funds.
Some local governments have enacted ordinances or enforcement regulations to provide direct support to victims of prostitution. In this context, Paju City in Gyeonggi Province, which includes the prostitution district of Yongjugol, is a representative example.
In fact, in Paju, support is provided for up to two years to victims whose willingness to leave prostitution has been confirmed. The total amount, including living expenses, housing support, and training costs, can reach between 50.2 million and 52 million won per person. Additionally, if the recipient has children under the age of 18, an extra 100,000 won per child per month is provided for 24 months as additional living support.
Some critics argue that it is contradictory to call those who voluntarily engaged in prostitution "victims," and point out that the verification process for whether someone has actually left the sex trade is unclear, despite the use of taxpayer money for these subsidies. In the post, the writer appears to have been confirmed as willing to leave prostitution and is receiving support from the local government, yet also expressed an intention to return to prostitution upon returning to Korea.
Online users responded with comments such as, "How can someone travel abroad using support funds?", "The system for determining whether someone has truly left prostitution needs to be revised," and "Isn't the amount too high? Did they even consider how much national merit recipients are getting when they made this policy?"
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