**Paju City Takes Action Against Illegal Premises in Prostitution Hotspot**
*On the morning of the 22nd, Paju City initiated administrative enforcement against illegal buildings in the so-called ‘Yongjugol’ area, the epicenter of prostitution in Yeonpung-ri, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. The city’s efforts to dismantle law-breaking structures was met with opposition from local business owners, workers, and members of the sex worker organization ‘Scarlet Solidarity Chacha’.*
**Protest Against Forced Demolition**
*Approximately 40 individuals joined forces to form a human chain in protest of the city’s actions, condemning the mayor and calling for an end to the execution of executives. Paju City evacuated around 300 people, including city hall workers and demolition services company employees, as they began administrative enforcement against buildings in violation of regulations in Yongjugol.*
**Paju City’s Strict Stance**
*Paju City has been resolute in its efforts to close down prostitution hotspots, conducting a fact-finding survey to identify illegal buildings in Yongjugol and notifying owners of voluntary rectification orders. Despite objections from business owners, the city’s demolition team proceeded to dismantle full-length windows and expansion facilities in the area.*
**Challenges Faced by Paju City**
*Although Paju City had planned to demolish all 11 targeted locations and install security cameras on the same day, the strong opposition from business owners and workers led to a delay in their plans.*
**Historical Significance of Yongjugol**
*Yongjugol, which served as a base town for prostitution for US troops after the Korean War, has maintained its reputation as a prominent prostitution center in Gyeonggi-do. While the city continues its efforts to crackdown on illegal premises, approximately 30 locations and 80 employees still remain in the area.*
Overall, Paju City’s ongoing battle against illegal establishments in Yongjugol has sparked a debate between authorities and local stakeholders, highlighting the complex and sensitive nature of the issue.
On the morning of the 22nd, administrative execution is underway against illegal premises within the prostitution hot spot in Yeonpung-ri, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. /News
Early in the morning on the 22nd, there was tension in the so-called ‘Yongjugol’ area, which is the starting point of prostitution in Yeonpung-ri, Paju-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. This is because when Paju City started demolishing law-breaking buildings in Yongjugol that day, women protested by setting up barricades.
On this day, around 40 people, including business owners, workers, and members of the sex worker organization ‘Scarlet Solidarity Chacha’, linked their arms together to form a human chain and said, “We are against forced demolition without measures” and “Paju mobilizes public power to drive sex workers out into the cold winter streets.” He said, “We strongly condemn the mayor” and “Stop executing executives.”
Starting at 9:20 am on this day, Paju City began administrative enforcement against buildings in violation of regulations, such as illegal extensions and unauthorized construction, in Yongjugol. Paju City evacuated around 300 people, including city hall workers and workers from a demolition services company. Administrative proxy is fulfilled is when the owner does not fulfill his obligations under administrative law, the competent administrative agency fulfills the obligation directly or when a third party fulfills the obligation.
Paju City, which is pushing for the complete closure of prostitution hotspots, conducted a fact-finding survey in February to demolish violent buildings in Yongjugol, identified about 100 buildings, and notified owners of voluntary rectification orders.
On this day, Paju City’s demolition team tore out full-length windows of buildings (businesses) that violated regulations and demolished expansion facilities, including rain shelters.
The appearance of ‘Yongjugol’, a prostitution hotspot located in Yeonpung-ri, Paju-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, on the afternoon of August 29th. It is known that soliciting customers is done on the first floor of a business building, and prostitution takes place on the second and third floors. /Chosun Ilbo DB
Although business owners and workers strongly opposed this process, it did not lead to physical confrontation. However, when the construction workers came to demolish the building, one business owner objected strongly and there was a confrontation at the entrance.
On this day, ‘Chacha’, who was protesting against the forced demolition, launched a civil complaint attack against Paju City. They posted a message on social media, urging, “Please file a complaint with the responsible department of Paju City via fax, phone, or website to prevent the violent administrative executions from happening in the Yongjugol prostitution hotspot.”
Paju City announced, at 4pm on this day, that the demolition of seven locations had been completed. Paju City originally planned to demolish all 11 targeted locations and install three security cameras (CCTVs) on this day, but after strong opposition from business owners and workers, it was decided to finish them later.
Yongjugol was formed immediately after the Korean War as a base town for prostitution for US troops, and it still maintains its reputation. At one time, as many as 1,000 prostitutes worked in about 250 establishments, making it one of the three major prostitution centers in Gyeonggi-do, along with the area in front of Suwon and Ssamri Station, Pyeongtaek. Currently, there are known to be approximately 30 locations and 80 employees remaining.
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