South Korea: former prostitutes sue pimps

Off Our Backs, Mar/Apr 2004 by Douglas, Carol Anne, Musumeci, Rena, Bunyan, Chris, Young, Angie

SEOUL-Nine former prostitutes are filing lawsuits demanding damages from the pimps who prostituted them. The women all were pressed into prostitution as minors.

They are suing for "wages" that were promised but never paid and for punitive damages for emotional distress. The women say they are suing as a move to curb the exploitation of minors as prostitutes.

Prostitution is illegal in South Korea, but there is a great deal of it nevertheless. Prostitutes as well as pimps can be punished by the courts.

Although the laws make it difficult for prostitutes to file such suits, a new law on youth protection that was set to take effect in March will make suits against pimps easier to file, said a director of the Commission on Youth Protection.