Witnessing the transition of employees of clubs exclusively for US soldiers from Korean
women to foreign women since 1998, Durebang has proposed policies, conducted research,
and provided support through victim counseling. Whenever possible, Durebang worked hard
to raise awareness on the severity of the problem of foreign women working in the us
military camp town.
As I share the types of exploitation they are put to and the lives that they lead many
times already, I want to keep it brief today.
In 2006, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism jointly with the International Organization
for Migration conducted an investigation on the status of foreign entertainers and policy
comparison with other countries (Japan, US, Canada and the UK); and conducted a study on
the process of sending and receiving foreign entertainers, its status and surrounding issues,
especially around systems and policy. The outcome was identification of weaknesses in
many aspects of the policy on receiving foreign entertainers and improvement measures. It
is unclear, however, how the result was reflected in the national policy (reference: ‘2006
research on the status of receiving foreign entertainers and comparative policy
study’Ministry of Culture and Tourism, International Organization for Migration, 2006).
In 2007, Durebang conducted a status survey on the Philippine women hired at the US
military bases in the Gyeonggi Province. About 60 women who stayed at the shelter
participated in our interview. With financial assistance from the Gyeonggi Provincial
Government and additional support from the Ministry of Gender Equality, Pyungtaek City
and the Gyeonggi Province, a shelter for sex trafficking women was opened in Pyungtaek
in 2009. The ladies who all worked at a usmilitary camp town in Pyungtaek answered that
prostitution is prevalent in all 100 or so clubs excluding one place. They also answered that
they are exposed to such inhumane conditions as delayed payment of salary, confiscation of
passport or forced prostitution. One or two cases may represent overall employment
condition of other women working at the same club, which represent general problem of
large number of women.
They are eligible for legal aid, medical assistance and return assistance under the special
clause of the Act on the Prevention of Sexual Trafficking and Protection, Etc. of Victims
Thereof not a law against human trafficking. Without a proper channel for assistance from
civil organizations, many victims are expected to return home without knowing their rights.
Even when they are connected to support groups like Durebang, the special clause for
foreigners under the Act does not provide any substantial support system to guarantee any
effective assistance and protection of victims. Here are some cases.
34 ❙ Seoul International Conference Against Human Trafficking in Migrant Women