Amid continuing protests among women in the sex industry over the Korean government’s efforts to shut down brothels, 20 prostitutes called for an open debate yesterday against women’s rights civic groups.
Prostitutes have been complaining that a government crackdown was only backed by women’s rights groups that “do not understand what is helpful and what is not.”
“We didn’t even get a chance to share our side of the story in public,” said a prostitute, hiding her faces with a mask during a press conference. “Women’s rights groups are saying prostitutes went to them for help. We want clear statistics on how many actually did.”
She also suggested different measures should be applied for prostitutes who want to stay in the business, instead of curbing the entire sex trade.
But a women’s rights group raised suspicions as to whether the women at the press conference were actually prostitutes.
“They could be connected with the brothel owners,” said a Korea Women’s Association United activist.
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