Argues for disease control and integration into the legal system
Temporarily shuts down social media account amid growing controversy
Kim Dongwan, a member of the group Shinhwa and an actor, has sparked controversy by mentioning the need to legalize prostitution.
On the 17th, Kim Dongwan wrote on his social media, "In trying to eliminate entertainment districts, the entire country is becoming an entertainment district," adding, "I cannot help but question when I see entertainment districts in front of churches, schools, and police stations." He went on to say, "We need to acknowledge and manage prostitution," and added, "Given that the reality of increasing single-person households has been left unattended, we should not simply gloss over it with the logic that covering it up is enough."
Kim Dongwan, a member of the group Shinhwa and an actor, sparked controversy after mentioning the need to legalize prostitution on his Instagram.
Later, when an online user replied, "I have mixed feelings about this issue. I would like to see taxes collected, but when it comes to legalizing it, I'm not sure if that's right," Kim Dongwan argued, "The reason I believe it should be legalized is that there are people who cannot do it without paying money. It is also necessary from the perspective of disease control."
As criticism mounted over his remarks on legalizing prostitution, Kim Dongwan closed the thread, but reopened it on the 20th to offer an explanation. He said, "What I am concerned about is the influx of minors, the lack of disease control, and exploitation within illegal structures," adding, "I believe that turning a blind eye to reality without protection and management, while talking about morality, can amount to evading responsibility."
Kim Dongwan, a member of the group Shinhwa and an actor, has sparked controversy by mentioning the need to legalize prostitution. On the 17th, Kim Dongwan posted on his social media (SNS), "In trying to eliminate entertainment districts, the whole country is becoming an entertainment district," adding, "I can't help but question seeing entertainment districts in front of churches, schools, and police stations." Kim Dongwan's Instagram
Meanwhile, under the current Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic, prostitution and brokerage activities are defined as illegal. Violators may face imprisonment or fines. In contrast, countries such as the Netherlands and Germany have legalized prostitution and operate it through licensing and registration systems, while New Zealand has adopted a decriminalization model. However, debates continue in each country over issues such as human trafficking and the coexistence of illegal establishments.
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