Pimps’ Acquisition of Property To Be Confiscated

Korean Women’s Development Institute (KWDI) under the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced yesterday that it has prepared a reform draft concerning the ‘Prevention of the Selling and Buying of Sex Act` to replace the current `Prevention of Prostitution Act`. According to the draft, the shelter facilities, which support the fallen women to return to the society, will be divided into the temporary shelter, mid-and long-term shelter, and the center for self-supporting. The draft requires the consumer involved in the selling and buying of sex to receive the sex education or the consciousness education for gender equality even after having sentenced to probation or suspension.

The draft will provide a monthly allowance for living based on the Special Article in the People’s Basic Living Security Act in order to prevent the fall women from being involved in the prostitution again after leaving the shelter. Especially, the draft will apply the severe legal sentences to the pimps who provide the selling and buying of sex, and will confiscate the property acquired from the selling and buying of sex.

Byun Wha-Soon, research director of the Family Health and Welfare at the KWDI, said that ``it is difficult to effectively prevent the selling and buying of sex because the Prevention of Prostitution Act is the punishment oriented law, and the proposal for supporting the fallen women does not have effectiveness. Hence, a reform draft has been prepared based on the framework that will strengthen the protection for the human rights of the fallen women and the measures to help their return to the society.``

The legislation of this draft will be carried out by the Ministry of Gender Equality through the hearings of the various social opinions, such as the `Public hearing concerning the legal alternatives to prevent the selling and buying of sex`.

Soh Young-A sya@donga.com