Some business owners and workers from the Daechubeol prostitution red-light district in Paju, Gyeonggi, once known as "Yongjugol," publicly declared a permanent halt, saying they "will never engage in prostitution again."
On the 3rd, about 20 business owners and workers from the Daechubeol prostitution red-light district in Yeonpung-ri, Paju-eup, held a press conference in front of Paju City Hall and said, "As of today, we are halting prostitution, and we publicly declare before citizens that we will never engage in prostitution again."
They said, "There has been the strong will and effort of Mayor Son Bae-chan of Paju, and the continued efforts and consultations of related agencies including the Paju Women and Family Division, the Paju-eup chief, police, and women's organizations," adding, "There have been many conflicts, but we now want to align with the purpose of the policy to dismantle the prostitution red-light district."
They added, calling it "a decision that the parties themselves made to end the long conflict," and said, "We will transition to lawful livelihoods going forward and build a new neighborhood together with residents."
However, they drew a line that this declaration does not represent the opinion of the entire district. They said, "Some business owners are currently participating individually in meetings to prepare a public forum, and we respect their views," but also noted, "The participation of a few must not be overinterpreted as representing the views of all business owners, workers, and resident representatives in Daechubeol."
The declaration came as Paju City is proceeding with related administrative procedures aimed at the complete dismantling of the Daechubeol prostitution red-light district. The city is pushing procedures including a decision to designate urban planning facilities and approval of an implementation plan for the area.
Earlier, on the 24th of last month, business owners and workers in the district submitted a coexistence plan to Paju City that included a permanent halt to prostitution, a legal transition of livelihoods, and measures to revive the commercial area.
They said, "What is now needed is practical consultations for transitioning the livelihoods of residents and the parties after prostitution disappears, and for normalizing the stagnant commercial area and neighborhood," and demanded, "We ask the mayor of Paju to accept the voluntary decision to permanently halt prostitution as an achievement of the dismantling policy and to review the submitted coexistence plan, and directly talk with residents and the parties."
They continued, "Completely eliminate prostitution, but create a new model of coexistence that saves people, the commercial area, and the neighborhood together," and said, "This declaration concerns the permanent halt of prostitution activities and is not agreement to expropriation, any specific development method, or relinquishment of property rights."
They also requested that property rights and development methods be discussed separately with residents and practical stakeholders such as landowners and building owners.
Paju City assessed the intent of their declaration positively but said future discussions will be conducted around the public forum.
In a statement, the city said, "The city has firmly pursued the principle of dismantling the prostitution red-light district, and we positively assess the intent of the parties stating they will stop prostitution and transition to lawful livelihoods."
It added, "Coexistence measures, regional development plans, and discussions on property rights cannot be decided through individual consultations with specific parties or in roundabout ways," explaining, "The dismantling of the prostitution red-light district and the changes that follow are complex issues entangled with the voices of not only the parties but also local residents, civic groups, experts, and many other stakeholders."
Paju City said, "We are refraining from unilateral, government-led administration and are gathering diverse opinions through the 'public forum,' an objective and neutral body," and urged, "Business owners and workers in the prostitution red-light district should not distrust or disregard the public forum and should attend immediately."
It continued, "If, in the process of reviewing the public forum's recommendations, there are parts that are insufficient or situations arise that require additional communication, we will conduct counseling and consultations according to the necessary methods and procedures," adding, "Based on the results of discussions drawn from the public forum, the city is scheduled to receive the final recommendations in Dec., and will carry out future administrative work and policy implementation based on those recommendations."