By Via a reader tip from the Open Thread comes this article about prostitution in Paju:
Lee Eun-ju, a loan officer at a savings bank, was shocked to see a huge red light district, known as Yongjugol, right next to a police station and military base at this border town when she came here to check the appraisal of a house.
A pimp showed up in place of the owner of a two-story house registered as a residential building as she asked why barely-dressed women in four-inch heels were standing behind a glass window as if on sale at a supermarket.
She made it clear that no loan could be approved for the brothel, but wondered how prostitution, which is illegal here, could be so openly practiced.
“It seems obvious that the police have turned a blind eye to the local sex industry, especially for servicemen wanting to buy sex, possibly due to bribery or undue pressure from decision-makers,” she said.
Yongjugol operates virtually around the clock. About 10 establishments are open for business during the daytime and some 60 operate at night, most of which continue to lure customers until 6 a.m. [Korea Times]
There is a lot more to read at the link about prostitution in Paju, but I had to laugh at the final passage in the article which blames prostitution in Paju on the prior US military bases near the town. I can guarantee there was prostitution in Paju long before USFK got there. Also the reporter is making a big deal about prostitution near a ROK Army base when there is prostitution in nearly every city in Korea; why doesn’t the reporter criticize these other areas that primarily civilians frequent?
7:47 am on February 21st, 2012 1
Is that a dude sitting in there looking out or can we get a close up of four eyes?
8:11 am on February 21st, 2012 2
Many Korean women accept that their husbands do it with prostitutes and don’t think it’s so bad as long as it’s with a prostitute or someone they don’t love(hopefully) or have an infatuation over.
Now on the ROK military in Paju, they are disgusting. Not one arrest in 6 years when they routinely break their own rules(bringing in plain clothes so they can immediately change and wear them outside their fences on Women For Sale Street). Just think how many other rules are broken for lack of caring if Kim, Jong-un is going to attack since the lot will just run south to avoid the front line.
8:19 am on February 21st, 2012 3
That was one of the biggest differences between the US and Korea when I was teaching adults in the late 1990s.
Sometimes I’d have a adjumma class in the early afternoon. I liked these classes the most. Too many of them wanted the foregiern to have a good opinion of Korean society, so they would give me the rose-colored glasses view.
The adjumma classes, when no men were present, would open up and talk about everything…
Divorce. Sex before marriage. infidelity. All were common topics. I was surprised how many of the married women said they didn’t mind if their husband slept with prostitues “as long as they don’t fall in love with them.”
It was like 90% of the women. Usually the only ones who objected where those who weren’t married yet, and there were few of them in these classes.
9:03 am on February 21st, 2012 4
All is fair in love and war, now if the male would allow the woman to do the same then okay, especially when the Princes of S. Korea can legally sell themselves to women for sex. What could be wrong with that?
Open marriages can sometimes be a good thing, what’s the chance in S. Korea?
11:31 am on February 21st, 2012 5
One time when in was stationed in Korea in 1979-1980 I was on a bus going somewhere & we passed some building that were maybe a half mile from the road that we were on. One guy on the bus told me that they were cat houses for the ROK soldiers & that they better never catch an American there. I did some crazy stuff when I was in Korea but I never would have been THAT stupid to try to catch a hooker there.
2:08 pm on February 21st, 2012 6
#5 same here Tom Langley. I put food on the table of many a working lady during my years in Korea. I only went to the “approved” locations. Like “BJ ALLEY” or Hooker Hill. That was enough for me. Never attempted to rent any pogi in the red light areas set aside for Koreans only.
I love individuals like the woman in the story. Don’t have a clue. Of course it is the fault of Americans.
Back in the 80′s we had an entire week of classes devoted to where we were: Korea. Some were given by Koreans. One old dude even went so far as to tell us that there was no prostitution in Korea before the Americans. I resisted the urge to ask about the “coffee shop” girls, back in the day.
Only another resaon why America needs to leave Korea to the Koreans. Or make it the 51st American STATE. Couldn’t have a curfew if that happened.
I vote to make Korea the 51st STATE myself!
2:56 pm on February 21st, 2012 7
Prostitution outside a ROK military installation? Heck, a few years ago, the Korean media ran a story about a noraebang INSIDE an army base staffed with doumi who did more than sing and pour booze. I can’t remember for sure where the base was located. I want to say either Daejeon or Cheongju.
3:04 pm on February 21st, 2012 8
Hold on, it was not a noraebang but a room salon in Gyeryeongdae, near Daejeon.
3:39 pm on February 21st, 2012 9
Years ago (65′), I became very good friends with a Korean shop keeper when I was at ASCOM. He was married and he would take me to some night clubs in Seoul. I asked him what excuse he was giving to his wife because we always ended the evening boinking some beauties. He said never got any inquiries on that subject. That there was a general rule amongst Korean guys. “Screw ten girls once, but never screw one girl ten times”. Breaking that rule would lead to an emotional connection that would lead to serious problems. He told me that I should always follow that
rule as well.
at home.
5:29 pm on February 21st, 2012 10
Korean Males Sell Sex Legally…
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/03/113_84246.html
“It is no secret that these male hosts not only serve drinks to their customers but also sell sex.
However, the police have had difficulty cracking down on the operators of host bars and their male employees as these male hosts “do not exist”under current law.
Under the law, only females can be “jeopdaebu,” a term in Korean referring to those who serve drinks and offer other entertainment to customers at bars or clubs.
This means that even if male hosts are caught providing “sexual services”to their customers, punishing their employers and the hosts could be elusive as there is no law defining the job title of these male hosts.
Experts said as long as the law limits the definition of jeopdaebu” to women, such male prostitution is legally viewed as an act taken voluntarily on mutual agreement.”
6:45 pm on February 21st, 2012 11
3: USINKOREA “I was surprised how many of the married women said they didn’t mind if their husband slept with prostitues “as long as they don’t fall in love with them.””
Actually this is human nature in general. I read an article years ago in a science mag which stated women tend to cope better with philandering involving one night stands as where their husband has developed a long term relationship with another female. Not only that, men react in the exact opposite manner. Makes some sense given what I observed in college. I saw girls look the other way time and again if their boyfriend hooked up with another female at a party but would go ballistic if they were to find out later he also had another girlfriend. Also saw guys suck up having their girlfriends doing the deed with a long term male friend but go into total melt-down if their significant other got drunk and spread her legs for some random Joe.
7:16 pm on February 21st, 2012 12
#10 What’s the visa designation for that. Gotta be in the F-series somehow….
9:27 pm on February 21st, 2012 13
A laughable story for sure.
Has anyone heard the rumors that the USFK commander has or is considering attempting to make Korea an alcohol free (as well as pogi free) tour for soldiers, dependents – and civilians?
I hope this isn’t true. I may end up with a new user name after he is ran out of the country on a rail! 
10:34 pm on February 21st, 2012 14
Where on earth was this woman raised. a convent or something? “Shocked! I tell you I’m SHOCKED!”
12:48 am on February 22nd, 2012 15
First they came for the prostitutes,
and I didn’t speak out because I didn’t frequent prostitutes.
Then they came for the alcohol,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t much of a drinker.
Then they came for the cigarettes,
and I didn’t speak out because I didn’t smoke much.
Then they offered me diick,
and I sucked the hell out of it ’cause it wasn’t like there was anything else to do.
3:08 am on February 22nd, 2012 16
Off topic here, but I’d love to here Leon’s comments about the current CG
5:27 am on February 22nd, 2012 17
@13 – If true about trying to ban alcohol then they will really just push all the soldiers deeper into real Korea instead of the villes to go drink where there is no MP/CP’s to enforce such a regulation.
7:22 am on February 22nd, 2012 18
#17
Breathalyzers at the gates.
They are almost finished building a new enlisted club on Osan. Root beers anyone?
10:48 am on February 22nd, 2012 19
Damn! A long fall from “Korea, the best kept secret in the Army”. No hookers and no drinky drink, but all the butt sexx any man could want.
The Qweens for a year will be extending year after year in Korea.
11:43 am on February 22nd, 2012 20
Why would the loan officer suspect they were prostitutes? And what made her think the guy was a pimp? These people should sue for defamation! There is no way a whore house would be right next to a police station – that’s just crazy and no one would ever believe that. Preposterous!
12:49 pm on February 22nd, 2012 21
#3 is so right about Korean women you are dead on the money I had a numbers of experience with Korean women ( The adjumma’s ) that was not suppose to happen, meaning these woman where married and in their middle age. When no men or other persons were around they could open up and talk about any or everything… I remember a few ajummas one adjumma in particular as if it was yesterday. This woman was happily married with kids in college and one in the ROK Army. this woman was about 27 years my senior I was 25, she just one of the many building cleaning ladies back in the early 80′s at the barracks where I lived. Any way to make a long story short we would strike up conversation from time to time about almost anything and I notice that was the trends with the other ajummas also. Her English was more than enough for me to understand and with me speaking enough Korean we was pretty much a good match. She had a a cute face fair complexion nice height for a Korean woman. One morning I was off from staff duty the night before I had dozed off with my playboy magazine on my nite stand just before she camed in. So when she came in she saw it and asked why did I have that when so many woman was down in the ville, I told her I did not like bar girls I prefer older woman with regular job, she replied really? I said yes and to my surprise she laugh her ass off you good man she said and left the room. So later that morning she came back to my room and sit on the side of my bed while I was trying to sleep and brought up the conversation we had early that morning ” about how I was really good man when it came going down to the ville for a little RR. ” she set down beside me and asked me, wanna massage? sure ajumma ( note: you have to understand that me and her had been picking each other apart for months ) I said she begin to rub her hand up and down my back for about 5 five minute after I turn over I could see that her top bottom to her dress was unbutton.
I staired at her cleavages, she made pass over the area like she was going to close it with her hand but she didn’t close it and I could see a lot of the material of her white bra that was showing. I looked at my door and saw that the latch was in the lock position she never lock the door before. I then reach out and threw her on the other side of my bunk and straddle her and said ajummma reg-i-dae!!!! ( which mean what’s wrong with you) …She jerk her arms from me and kick the crap out of my stomach to the point where I keeled over from pain so when I gather my composure she was standing there nakey as a new born baby kicking her pantie to the floor man what a body on this 62 year old woman I could not believe the body and perfect looking tits she had been hiding under that old sloppy ajumma dress and when she hoped right back in the bed with me and her legs pointing east and west she was no armatured and the rest is history. ( his story and hers ) while putting her clothes back on she warned me not to tell nobody or I would make big trouble because her friend husband told the Korea government that other GI touch his Korean wife. And he went to state side early. Where ever you got men and woman regardless of any kind of racial divide or culture differences they will get it on in the sack. Believe it or not she was not the only ajumma that let me smack that booty, store keeper, housemaid, girls in the PX arcade, club owner, restaurant owners, ball headed Buddis monk that wore a gray uniform I had affair’s with all type of woman in that country. Amazing what a little knowledge of the local language and customs will do for you in a foreign land it is worth the time to learn all I can say absolutely never do the same woman over and over she will become a problem my ajumma got in my head and she is here in my head to this day I will never for get that woman on the many morning I had morning wood. And she would take the edge off. true story, I can not stress it enough learn the language and don’t get attached. Buddish monk woman now that a story this ……blk Guy really enjoyed himself. in the land of sliding door, heated floor and slant eyes h………with respect . I love that country and all the people in it. To tell you the truth I went back on vocation with my Korean wife so one day I went off by myself and went to my old unit and ask this Korean secretary that worked in the office of the orderly room where might I find her she at me so strangely and ask why do you want to see Mrs. X just to say hello well she retired three years ago sorry not here. I am pretty sure after I left the office she got on the phone and called her up told her that American black guy was looking for her and if she did she would have known it was me and that was enough to show her I have not forgotten her,I never know. life is a is a trip.
1:13 pm on February 22nd, 2012 22
SOMEWHERE@21: Interesting story. Thanks. Glad to hear you
married a Korean. I do not recall viewing any previous comments
from you. Hope to hear more comments/opinions from you. Did
you retire from the Army?
3:55 pm on February 22nd, 2012 23
@ #20
There is a police station in Yonjugol right next to the Brothels. You absolutely can not miss them.
4:57 am on February 23rd, 2012 24
@18 – If they put breathalyzers at the gate then the GI’s are just going to stay off post until the next morning. If they put unannounced breathalyzers at the gate could you imagine the amount of potential UCMJ violations?
5:12 am on February 23rd, 2012 25
KEY RESOLVE is comming up and like any other large exercise the Commanding General usually publishes a General Order on no alcohol consumption during the exercise. Nothing more…nothing less.
4:19 pm on February 23rd, 2012 26
24, 25. There is more to it than that. Of course everyone knows of GO #1. What we are talking about here is that someone, who should know better, might be considering a blanket TOUR LONG prohibition on any and all alcohol sales and consumption by EVERYONE under SOFA status, including service members (bad enough) DEPENDENTS, CONTRACTORS and CIVILIAN employees. This cannot be true. Imagine the possible repercussions. The very fact this rumor is going around is somewhat disturbing.
As far as Key Resolve, many units appear not to be participating. The exercise itself seems to be functioning under its own momentum and is talking place to keep the contractors busy. Seems many portions (and I mean big chunks) of USFK are not interested and don’t want to play. Self licking ice cream cone status has almost been achieved.
7:29 pm on February 23rd, 2012 27
No alcohol means no black market alcohol sales and no juicy bars.
That’s not very Good Neighborly.
7:50 pm on February 23rd, 2012 28
27. The black market on alcohol is no where near as lucrative as it once was. Prices have dropped significantly and selection has improved a great deal for legitimately obtained goods off post. I know there is always that hard core contingent that will try to black market if there is half a cent to possibly be made, but for the most part it’s not worth the trouble.
The concern of course is the civil rights of the civilians who may get caught up in this, if USFK were foolish enough to attempt such a policy. Why not limit other “unnecessary” training and discipline distractors as well? I just wondered if anyone else had heard this rumor or knew where it came from.
From my perspective it is likely because of blotters with a possible twinge of evangelism so prevalent in our flag officer ranks. Like I said, maybe it was floated but quickly shot down. The problem is I have to question the thought processes and judgement of anyone who might put forth such an idea. It’s not about the drinking in and of itself, if you get me.
Well, go to go strap on my empathy transgender outfit for the evening prayer supper at the (former) NCO club.
10:01 pm on February 23rd, 2012 29
“empathy transgender outfit”
You have one too?
But, honestly, I never feel fully empathetic unless I am wearing the hobbler attachment, for cripple empathy… and the harelip empathy prosthetic… and, of course, the empathy vestigial tail.
The more I wear, the more empathy I get for empathizers… making it a form of empathy empathy.
Presumably, one could observe my situation and work on their empathy empathy empathy.
I’m thinking of selling a USFK Leadership Empathy Kit… but I’m not sure how to packing pettiness, deviance, and betrayal.
But, in reality, you really don’t need a kit.
Just huff some gasoline and cut off your balls.