Foreigners forced into prostitution in ‘juicy bars’: report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some foreign workers who come to South Korea to become entertainers are being forced into prostitution at “juicy bars” near U.S. military bases, CNN reported Thursday.

The broadcaster aired an interview with one of the Filipina women who claimed to have been coerced into sexual slavery.

The victim said that she left her country and her family after being promised a job as a singer by a Filipino promoter. Upon arriving in the country, she had to work in one of the bars located near U.S. military bases.

While these looked like regular bars, female staff were forced to offer sexual services if she did not meet her quota of drinks to sell.

After year and a half of exploitation, she was able to escape with the help of Durebang, a facility offering support for foreign victims of forced prostitution.

The report was part of CNN’s “Freedom Project,” which aims to fight modern day slavery by reporting such cases around the world.

As of July, 4,879 foreigners entered the country on the E-6 visa. The visa allows its holder to enter South Korea and make a profit by taking part in cultural and artistic performance. A part of the female E-6 visa holders, however, are forced to prostitution by agencies which hired them.

Earlier this month, South Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family vowed to boost protection of those workers‘ rights by rescuing and sending them back to their home countries.

U.S. forces in South Korea prohibits its troops from entering these facilities, and warns it soldiers not to support human trafficking.

http://www.koreaherald.com/common_prog/newsprint.php?ud=20131220000790&dt=2

From news reports
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