U.S. Department of State 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report - Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea (Tier 1)

South Korea is a source, transit, and destination country for women who are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Women from Russia, the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.), the Philippines, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to South Korea. Korean women are trafficked to Japan and to the United States, sometimes via Canada, for exploitation in prostitution. In recent years, the Government of the Republic of Korea has taken significant steps to address the problem, including through tightening of enforcement and an ambitious legislative campaign aimed at curbing trafficking and exploitation of women.

The Government of the Republic of Korea fully complies with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, and has recently taken measures to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the problem. The government has shown a steady commitment to support victims, prosecute traffickers, and strengthen national laws. In 2004, the South Korean Government showed leadership by passing and implementing sweeping anti-trafficking and anti-prostitution laws, which provided stiff sanctions for trafficking and prostitution and established an infrastructure of social, legal, and medical support for victims. The government has also coordinated closely with United States Forces Korea (USFK) in developing and implementing policy that addresses the problem of sexual exploitation of women in the Republic of Korea in areas surrounding USFK bases. Due to their leadership in tackling demand, the government recognizes that it must also make efforts to provide more education and vocational training for thousands of women who have been trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation.

Prosecution

The Government of the Republic of Korea (R.O.K.) made greater efforts to prosecute trafficking-related cases over the last year. R.O.K. authorities used several statutes including the Criminal Code, the Law on Juvenile Protection, and the Act on Additional Punishment for Specific Crimes to prosecute traffickers. During the reporting period, the Ministry of Justice conducted 536 trafficking-related investigations, resulting in 71 prosecutions and 144 people currently serving sentences. The government implemented a new anti-trafficking law, the Act on the Punishment of Intermediating in the Sex Trade and Associated Acts, which provided for punishment of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation and authorized the seizure of assets acquired through trafficking. The new law punishes those who use threats, violence, or debt bondage to force people into prostitution and declares that victims' debts to their employers are invalid. Punishments under the new law include up to ten years' imprisonment and fines of up to $86,000. In 2004, the Korean military and the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) continued their cooperation with the USFK in identifying brothels suspected of exploiting trafficking victims and barring U.S. soldiers access to them.

Protection

During the reporting period, South Korea continued to provide strong protective measures for trafficking victims. The government demonstrated the political will to combat trafficking and applied more resources to protect trafficking victims. The 2004 Act on the Prevention of the Sex Trade and Protection of its Victims authorized the establishment of assistance facilities and counseling centers to help victims reintegrate into society. Over the past two years, the South Korean Government has established 38 shelters for Korean victims of trafficking and two shelters for foreign victims. During 2004, a total of 505 women were sheltered in these facilities, which provide psychological counseling, board and lodging, vocational training, and legal aid. The government also provided significant funding for NGOs providing assistance to trafficking victims. In 2004, the Ministry of Gender Equality (MOGE) provided $4.67 million to these NGOs. For foreign trafficking victims, the Ministry of Justice granted G-1 visas or suspensions of departure, which prevented victims from being deported from South Korea and encouraged them to cooperate with efforts to prosecute their traffickers. The government also took measures to protect trafficking victims who cooperated in prosecutions by prohibiting the disclosure of the victim's identity and allowing a closed-door hearing.

Prevention

The R.O.K. continued to expand its prevention efforts in 2004. The MOGE and the KNPA carried out regular briefings, policy seminars, and media interviews on trafficking. The MOGE worked with NGOs on a public education campaign to raise awareness among victims of their rights under the new anti-trafficking and anti-prostitution laws and established a hotline for trafficking victims that included English, Russian, and Chinese interpretation services. The KNPA distributed educational materials to foreign women working in entertainment venues informing them of their rights and how to report any abuses.