Sex trafficking in South Korea is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Republic of Korea. South Korea is a country of origin, destination, and transit for sexually trafficked persons. Sex trafficking victims in the country are from South Korea and foreigners.
Male and female perpetrators in South Korea come from a wide range of backgrounds and a number are members of or facilitated by organized crime syndicates and gangs. Some government officials, troops, celebrities, and police, as well as foreigners, have been complicit in sex trafficking in South Korea. For instance, the Burning Sun scandal highlighted the widespread sex trafficking involving Korean celebrities and idols that had been going on for years and the resulting attempts in cover-ups.[1][2][3]
The scale of sex trafficking in South Korea is difficult to know because of the underground nature of sex trafficking crimes, the fact that only a small minority of cases are reported to the authorities, and other factors. Traffickers have used the internet websites, email, and apps to lure victims. Methods such as cybersex trafficking have also been used.[4] The South Korean government has been criticized for its lacking anti-sex trafficking efforts and laws. Some South Korean officials have also been accused of being apathetic about the issue.
- ^ Campbell, Matthew; Kim, Sohee (6 November 2019). "The Dark Side of K-Pop: Assault, Prostitution, Suicide, and Spycams". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ Wilder, Gabriel (7 June 2019). "The Burning Sun scandal that torched South Korea's elites". www.lowyinstitute.org. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ Brown, August (5 April 2019). "K-pop's innocent image is shattered by the 'Burning Sun' scandal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "Online child sexual exploitation and abuse". UNODC. 2019.