30% of teen-age prostitutes aged 16

Analysis of teen prostitution in Korea has revealed that the average age of the girls involved is 16 while most of their clients are in their 30s. In addition, most of them meet in Internet chat rooms.

The results of the study, which were announced on Dec. 28, showed that of the 222 teens arrested on prostitution charges by the Seoul Police Department, 30.2% (67) were 16-year-olds.

The second highest number apprehended were 18-year-olds at 21.6% (48), followed by 15-year-olds at 17.1% (38), 17-year-olds at 15.8% (35), and 14-year-olds at 11.7% (26). There was even 8 prostitutes below 13 years of age for 3.6% of the total.

Of the total, 47.3% (105) were students in middle or high school while 52.7% (117) were middle or high school drop-outs.

Three of the teen-age prostitutes were arrested for black-mailing their clients by making threats to report them to police. Twenty-three were booked without detention while the rest were put in protective custody or sent back home.