Paju builds anti-prostitution center in red-light district in bid to shut down 'Yongjugol'

In a move to clean up a notorious red-light district of Yongjugol, the city of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, has opened a new anti-prostitution center in its very heart. The center, marked with a sign reading “Gender Equality Paju,” stands in sharp contrast to the aging three-story buildings of the surrounding area — and is part of a broader municipal effort to close down the decades-old sex trade hub. Built on the site of two buildings purchased and demolished by the city, the new facility opened in late April and is already hosting exhibitions and educational programs on sex work and women's rights. It welcomed a group Tuesday from a women's rehabilitation center in Seoul. According to city officials, the space will be used for exhibitions, public education programs and as a community center — all designed to increase foot traffic and discourage illicit activities in the area. This is not the first time Paju has disrupted business as usual in Yongjugol, one of the country’s few remaining prostitution zones. In December 2023, the city opened a community education center just 100 mWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times