If these former prostitutes win this lawsuit it seems this would open up the flood gates for lawsuits against the government for all prostitutes that every worked in Korea since the government turned a blind eye to this activity for so long:
1968 image of ville outside US military base via Mishalov.com
Attorneys for a group of former prostitutes who serviced U.S. troops decades ago argued Friday they should receive compensation because the South Korean government encouraged them to “work for their country.”
The 122 women are suing the government for $1.2 million and asking for an official apology and an investigation into a system of open prostitution that operated in the military camp towns surrounding U.S. bases for several decades after the Korean War. The women claim their human rights were violated. Their attorneys say documents show the national government, including a ministry overseeing health and social affairs, was directing local health centers to manage the women’s health care.
“The plaintiffs were not aware at the time that prostitution was illegal,” Ui Eun-jin, one of several attorneys for the women, said during the first hearing in the case. “They were being educated that this was work for their country and an act of patriotism.”
Ha Ju-hee, another attorney for the women, said the national government had designated specific areas for the women to practice prostitution, forced them to register with health clinics, get regular health checkups and then treatment if they were found to have sexually transmitted diseases.
“The state caused the plaintiffs pain, so the state has a duty to compensate them,” she said, adding that the national government also praised the women for earning U.S. dollars. South Korea was desperately poor after the Korean War, and American currency was seen as a way to build up its struggling economy. [Stars & Stripes]
You can read more at the link, but the club system many of these women found themselves locked into all those years ago has been well documented in books such as this one. Here is an example of the boards that were put up warning GIs back then of girls with STDs:
So it was pretty clear that the Korean government in cooperation with the US military back then regulated the prostitution industry outside of the US military bases. With that said the prostitutes in the camptowns are just a tiny fraction of the total number of prostitutes in Korea over the years that the government also turned a blind eye to. What is especially reprehensible about this is that many of these women were sold into the club system by their parents who were looking for money to support their families during Korea’s era of poverty before today’s economic miracle. There is a lot of blame to go around in regards to all the prostitution in Korea, not just outside the US military bases.
“this would open up the flood gates for lawsuits against the government for all prostitutes that every worked in Korea”
No, it’s just the gates that allowed for S. Korean women to service Americans.
“especially reprehensible about this is that many of these women were sold into the club system by their parents who were looking for money to support their families during Korea’s era of poverty ”
Compared to today where S. Korean women are expected to marry and serve their husbands before the age of 30, at least they earned money(“for their parents/family”) during their teens and 20’s.
Alright…who forgot to pay for their short time?
“this would open up the flood gates for lawsuits against the government for all prostitutes that every worked in Korea”
No, it’s just the gates that allowed for S. Korean women to service Americans.
“especially reprehensible about this is that many of these women were sold into the club system by their parents who were looking for money to support their families during Korea’s era of poverty ”
Compared to today where S. Korean women are expected to marry and serve their husbands before the age of 30, at least they earned money(“for their parents/family”) during their teens and 20’s.
…forced them to register with health clinics, get regular health checkups and then treatment if they were found to have sexually transmitted diseases.
That freaking terrible! It’s like ObamaScare!
They should have sued the US. They’re the ones who forced these women.
Tom, don’t get your hopes up.
Even if they win a settlement, your mom won’t share it with you.