 Some migrant wives resort to prostitution to make ends meet after leaving their abusive Korean husbands. / Korea Times file |
By Lee Hyo-sik
An increasing number of foreign women who come here to marry Korean men are running away from home and engaging in prostitution to earn ``easy money,” creating a daunting task for the immigration authorities.
Substantial numbers of migrant wives decide not to live with their Korean husbands and their families, due to financial hardship among other reasons. They then try to stand on their own feet by normally working as helpers at restaurants or other low-paying places.
But some of them choose to sell sex in karaoke bars, massage parlors and other late-night entertainment establishments, lured by larger sums of money.
Several groups of migrant women over the past few weeks have been caught engaging in the sex trade, not only in Seoul and its adjacent cities but also in rural areas.
They are normally deported back to their home countries.
Experts say that the Korean government should tighten the rules on Korean men seeking to tie the knot with foreign women, as well as ensure that foreign wives are properly treated by their husbands and in-laws.
To help foreign wives adapt to new surroundings here and refrain from engaging in prostitution and other illicit activities, the government should provide multicultural families with comprehensive support measures.
On Jan. 20, the police raided a brothel, disguised as a barbershop, in Ulsan where two Chinese Korean women in their 40s sold sex. Investigators booked a 50-year-old Chinese Korean who manages the place, the two women and a man buying sex at the time of the raid. The brothel has been operating since December last year and was found to have earned over 24 million won.
According to the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency, the two women entered the country by marrying Korean men. But soon after, they left homes and became prostitutes to earn money for their families in China.
``A large number of Korean men tying the knot with foreign women grapple with financial hardship. Many of the women run away from home to make money. Some work at restaurants and other low-paying service businesses, while others engage in prostitution,’’ a police officer said.
He said another establishment suspected of selling sex was raided on Dec. 23 and 10 foreign women employed as prostitutes there were deported back to their home countries.
Kang Sung-hea, chief director of the Emergency Support Center for Migrant Women, said the government should make it more difficult for those who sexually exploit migrant women.
``I know that some foreign wives come here to make easy money by selling sex. They should be deported to their home countries immediately. But many are forced into prostitution against their will or just to make ends meet. We should first look into why they have to run away from their husbands and sell sex for survival,’’ Kang said.
The center, established in 2006 to help foreign women cope here, is affiliated with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Besides its headquarters in central Seoul, there are six other branch offices across the nation.
The chief director then said law enforcement authorities should give harsher punishments to those taking advantage of foreign wives.
``Foreign women forced into prostitution by their husbands or others should be given a second chance to live a descent life here. They should not be indiscriminately deported back to their home nations.’’
There are no official statistics on how many foreign women are currently engaged in prostitution, Kang said, adding their number will likely increase down the road.
``About 140,000 non-Korean women currently reside here. Last year alone, a total of 25,000 foreign women came here mostly as brides to Korean men. Our centers, along with Multicultural Family Support Centers, should be given more resources to provide a comprehensive package of solutions to migrant women and their family members for a more stable life,’’ she said.
몸파는 이주여성 계속 늘어
한국 남자와 결혼한 외국 여성 중 갈수록 많은 수가 경제적 어려움이나 남편 학대 등의 이유로 집을 나가고 생계를 위해서 성매매를 하고 있어서 이민당국을 곤혹스럽게 하고 있다.
대부분 외국 여성은 처음에는 식당 등 저임금 서비스 업종에서 일을 시작하나 어떤 이들은 어려운 경제 상황으로 쉽게 많은 돈을 벌 수 있는 성매매 업소로 흘러 들어 가고 있다.
최근에 상당수의 외국인 여성들이 서울 뿐만 아니라 지방에서 성매매를 하다가 적발돼 본국으로 추방되는 사례가 빈번이 일어나고 있다.
![[PHOTOS] Kep1er returns with 'Magic Hour' to mesmerize fans](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/cd6a652dcfe345fe92b760583c5eb68a.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
