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Government Action Plans

Government of Korea's Plan of Action To Prevent, Protect, Prosecute and Reintegrate

South Korea has recently taken significant action against traffickers and has prioritized human rights of vulnerable groups such as women and children. There are laws in South Korea that prohibit and prevent trafficking in persons, punish traffickers and protect and support victims of human trafficking. South Korea is also a signatory to all pertinent international treaties, and is arresting and prosecuting those who traffic in human beings.

The South Korean government firmly believes that human trafficking constitutes a serious crime, infringes on the human rights of victims, and destroys the nation's social fabric. Therefore, the government has prosecuted traffickers of women and children to the fullest extent of the law, through legislation such as the prostitution prevention law, the child welfare law, the youth protection law and the employment security law. Furthermore, the Korean government recently toughened punishments for those convicted on charges of human trafficking.¹

The South Korean government has instituted various legal procedures to protect foreign women who are caught engaging in prostitution in Korea. Specifically, the government has made it a rule to treat these women leniently by returning them to their country of origin rather than punishing them. The South Korean government distinguishes between those foreign women who are trafficked and those who should not be categorized as "trafficking victims" since they voluntarily engaged in certain activities to make money.

The South Korean Justice Ministry has put in place measures to protect trafficking victims including shelters and self-support centers. The government has also enacted the NGO assistance law and provided various kinds of assistance including financial support for NGOs. It is also offering legal aid to trafficking victims. In 2001, the South Korean government spent a total of 4.9 billion won (US$4 million) on assistance to trafficking victims, shelters, counseling centers and hotlines. Women's hotlines have been set up in regional counseling centers, but are hardly ever used by the women. However, because of recent public concern about teenage prostitution and 'compensation dating', attention has been devoted to the issue, resulting in special organizations, extensive campaigns, and proposals for legislation.

¹Taken from www.korea.net an official website of the South Korea (Republic of)