include (multiple responses allowed); buyers paying less money than promised
(72.9%), buyers’ refusal to use condoms (62.9%), and unwanted pregnancies or
having sexually transmitted diseases (48.6%). These adolescents also responded
that stronger punishment (49.1%) and tough investigation and punishment of
illegal ‘random chatting applications’ (12.7%) were needed in order to combat
“conditional dating” with youth. Countermeasures such as a mandatory adult
authentication procedure are required since smartphone chatting applications
have become a hotbed of youth prostitution.
49. According to the Fact-finding Survey on the Environment of Youth Prostitution
and Their Human Rights conducted by the National Human Rights Commission
of Korea in 2016, out of 103 respondents who are youth victims of sexual traffic,
8.7% responded that they first experienced prostitution at the age of 13 or
younger, 57.3% at between 14 and 16 and 32% at 17 or older. The average age
of first prostitution was 14.7 years old. The reasons for the first prostitution were
“no place to sleep (35%),” “no other jobs (26.2%),” and “because of hunger
(25.2%)” which resulted from their situation of running away from home in
addition to other reasons (multiple responses allowed) such as “to buy
cosmetics/clothing (30.1%)” and “temptation of money (32%).” The fundamental
reasons behind youth (girls) starting prostitution are the dismantlement of family
relationships and loose social safety net which resulted in the lack of material
and human resources. A significant number of youth who were involved in
sexual traffic ran away from home or have been neglected that led them to a
vulnerable economic and psychological position. Since adults have relative
advantages in age, intelligent strength and economic power, it is easy for them
to exploit the above-mentioned vulnerable situation of youth. Therefore, many
countries such as the United States, Canada and Sweden punish the sexual traffic
of youth below a certain age without considering whether the youth have
agreed to the act and do not punish the adolescents themselves.
50. Although the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual
Abuse states that children and juveniles are not punished for the sake of
protection and rehabilitation, Article 28 (1-1) of the same law stipulates that they