Prostitution Problem Needs to Be Addressed

A prostitue, known by her family name Kim, was recently rescued from a brothel in Seoul. No longer able to withstand the cruel treatment she received at the hands of the owners, she managed to send a letter to a police chief in Seoul. The news sent shock aves throughout the nation. Even mroe shocking than the description of the acts was the fact that police were involved.

Young Kim's tragedy is direct evidence of the horrifying demon lurking on the dark side of Korean society.

"We were not criminals, yet they continued to beat us and keep us confined. We were treated worse than animals."

A hidden camera revealed that Kim was beaten everyday with sticks. She was locked up all day behind an iron door. She was even monitored in the bathroom. Slavery is the only appropriate term for such treatment.

The unbelievable human rights violations rampant in Korean society shuld be attributed to police. If police were not aware of the incidents, one might call it a negligience of duty. If the police were aware of the incidents, then it is a gross dereliction of duty. According to Kim's allegations, the police force maintains a close relationship with the owner of the house, therefore any disclosure that might take place will be misdirected by the police." For example, even though Mrs. Kim requests that the people who committed the crimes be punished, the police might change her answer to the negative.

Furthermore, more stringent efforts must be utilized to uproot rings of organized prostitutes. Kim revealed that she was tricked by an agency that illegally detained her. She managed to escape but was again taken by the agency.

The crackdown on prostitution is not something that can be accomplished by a single institutin or region. We need the full cooperation of the prosecution and police, as well as educational and administrative institutes.

If authorities fail to address Korea's rampant prostitution problem, then what hope is there for Korean society and the laws to which it adheres?