By It seems like the Stars & Stripes has really opened a can of worms with their recent article on the South Korean juicy girl issue because it seems like everyone has an opinion on this:
Regarding the Sept. 8 article “Thinly veiled propositions: S. Korea’s ‘juicy bars’ said to be havens for prostitution aimed at U.S. military”: I find it very disappointing that very little has been done by either the U.S. or South Korean governments to curb human trafficking in South Korea. These sleazy villes right outside bases like Osan Air Base and Camp Casey are literally running rampant with juicy bars and prostitution.
A lot of lip service is given by U.S. Forces Korea and others about how they’re trying to fix this but, really, what efforts are being done to make more than a small dent in the problem?
I went out to the Osan ville the other night and was appalled by the number of mean-spirited Korean ladies trying to trick me into buying drinks or to “go home” with basically these modern-day slaves from poor countries.
From my personal account there was no attempt by the Korean bar owners to hide anything.
You can’t tell me it’s hard to prove what goes on in these bars. All it takes is a token effort by the leadership of these young soldiers and airmen to recognize what’s really going on. That’s what really bothers me about this: These young men join the military and I’m sure they and their families expect that, in return for their dedication to service, their leaders will take care of them. Well, in this case it isn’t happening, and it’s betrayal on a level that’s probably incomprehensible unless you actually see what’s going on.
This is a serious problem that is plaguing our young military men in South Korea. On one hand, their leadership tells them not to engage in human trafficking; on the other hand, when it’s running rampant right outside their door, the leaders just look the other way. If this isn’t a complete failure and betrayal by leadership, then I don’t know what is.
Master Sgt. Eric Haynes (retired)
Osan Air Base, South Korea[Stars & Stripes via reader tip]
I understand the Mr. Haynes concerns, but I do think it is important to point out that prostitution in the villes has been cleaned up in the past seven years since the Fox News report put a big spotlight on what was going on in the villes. Even though the villes have been cleaned up a bit, the prostitution is still going on which I don’t have much of a beef with than with the human trafficking.
I continue to maintain that the best way to handle the issue of human trafficking is to put clubs that hire third country nationals off limits. Most of the Filipina’s working in these clubs know what they are getting into, but these Korean club owners are still exploiting many of these financially desperate women by holding on to their passports and charging exorbant frees to further reduce what little money they do make. By forcing the bar owners to hire Koreans then there is no passport issue and these women can leave at any time. This greatly reduces the human trafficking concerns.
The people that will lose are the bar owners that will make less money because they will have to pay Korean women more money for doing the same thing these Filipina women are doing.
2:32 pm on October 5th, 2009 1
GI, This guy makes it sound like it’s pretty bad now, in what way was it worse seven years ago?
Reply
2:37 pm on October 5th, 2009 2
It is interesting this guy gives a first hand account of his ville experience. Of course, he could be making it up but it’s certainly believable.
Also, I highly doubt a Letter to the Editor will force any changes. Heck, how many readers bother to read LOE’s anyway?
Reply
4:28 pm on October 5th, 2009 3
Well, the Filipinas lose too of course. For many of these poorly educated young women being a juicy/prostitute is their only viable means to support family back home. And if not in Korea, they will still be marketing the only asset they possess, just for a lot less money.
One other unintended consequence of making TCN bars off-limits—Korean whores are a lot more mercenary and ruthless than pinays. Or so I’ve been told…
Reply
October 5th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
[DELETED BY ADMIN - Inappropriate content]
Reply
October 5th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
One other unintended consequence of making TCN bars off-limits—Korean whores are a lot more mercenary and ruthless than pinays. Or so I’ve been told…
You have been told correctly, not only that, they are more blatant when they do it.
Reply
October 6th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Is it tempting to rationalize the whole Human Trafficking thing by saying how it helps the Filipinos make a few bucks and/or get out of their dire situation by marrying an extremely young, lonely, and pathetically stupid GI.
However, I think human trafficking prevents the Phillipine Government from taking actions to improve their country (rampant corruption, little birth control, etc), therefore a large portion of their people continue to live in abject poverty.
Reply
October 6th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Well, there is clearly a distinction between human trafficking and prostitution. My point is a certain segment of the disadvantaged population makes the decision to prostitute, and I certainly think a woman has the right to use her body in anyway she chooses.
Subic and Clark AFB closed almost 20 years ago, and the sex industry continues to thrive. So, I don’t see how you can blame this on the military.
Hell, prostitution in the room salons, barber shops, and glass houses is rampant throughout Korea and that is not because of the military presence. Hell, waeguks aren’t even allowed in most of those places.
I’m just weary of the do-gooders
who would deny a woman the only chance she has to escape poverty and not give a sh*t if she starved as a consequence.
Yeah, in a perfect world the sex trade would not be necessary or viable. Wake me when that day comes…
Reply
8:28 pm on October 5th, 2009 4
If you do marry a juicy, If she is Korean, you take care of her and maybe her parents, thats it.
With the Pinays you take care of her, her parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins etc:
Her family can be relentless and overwhelming.
With the Koreans you got cold and business like = Independence
With Pinays you got warm and cozy = Dependence
Reply
11:06 pm on October 5th, 2009 5
When I came here in 1988, all the gils in bars were Korean. From what I understand they were working off a debt, such as money loaned so their brother could attend college. If you became friendly with them you could go to their little hole in the wall where they lived in the daytime if you were off. As far as PI girls go, I read an article how they get hired in the Mildde East under the pretense of a domestic in American compounds.
Reply
11:23 pm on October 5th, 2009 6
This guy is just preaching to the choir. Sure, he’s right that the Osan/USFK leadership won’t lift a finger to protect their troops.
Actually, it’s so apparent to the Koreans that it probably makes Human Trafficking flourish unabated – The Koreans know USFK and the Post leaderships have absolutely no power or even any desire to fix the Human Trafficking problem. NONE.
Reply
2:55 am on October 6th, 2009 7
“I continue to maintain that the best way to handle the issue of human trafficking is to put clubs that hire third country nationals off limits.”
Uh, GI Korea – you do realize that this would make virtually every restaurant in Tongduchon off limits as well?
Anyway, this guy went out in the Osan ville for one night, and sees all bar girls as prostitutes and “mean spirited” Koreans everywhere he goes. If this was about certain other ethnic groups, people would automatically accuse him of racism. He would also be a bit more helpful if he suggested a solution, instead of making blanket condemnations.
Reply
6:56 am on October 6th, 2009 8
I don’t think this guy understands. Doesn’t he know that Human Rights on the continent of Asia is just an AFTERTHOUGHT?
Reply
11:04 pm on October 26th, 2009 9
This is BULL! Take a walk outside Camp Hovey in Tokari. Nothing has changed much there since Fox in 2004. If a girl in the club can’t find a barfine (soldier) by closing the manager will call local Korean hotels. The clubs are charging $150 and the girls receive 40,000 Won ($40) for after midnight activities.
Reply
7:44 am on October 27th, 2009 10
Has anyone tried calling P&HT Hotline at 333 from On-Post or 0505-736-9333 from Off-Post?
Lot of opinions but little action…
Reply
6:03 am on October 28th, 2009 11
I called them early this year to report a Filippina friend that was barfined, raped, and beaten in Tokari. The Staff Sergeant on duty asked, “What is a barfine?” Then he took about 5 minutes to locate a form to report the offense. Nothing has happened. I suspect that the Hotline is just a front to keep everyone happy. The Koreans also provide the girls with free legal assistance… when a girl reported that her owner hasn’t paid the girls in 4 months somehow the owner found out and beat the crap out of the girl. Then he had her moved to Busan.
Reply