China and Male Prostitution

Prostitution Exports Expand to Include Male Variety
Aug.23,2006 20:50 KST

Digital Chosunilbo

In the midst of the already plenty disgraceful news of the pan-pacific expedition into the U.S. of Korean sex trade workers, now even Korean host bars (with male prostitutes) have been uncovered in China.

According to a statement from the Seoul Metropolitan Police on Wednesday, a 36-year-old Korean man being identified by his last name Kim is being held by Chinese authorities under suspicion of hiring male hosts to work at his sex bar. Nine men who worked at the bar have been booked here but not detained. It is alleged that Kim earned some 696,000 Yuan (W83.5 million; US$1=W956) in illegal profits through his business venture that catered to Chinese women and Korean female tourists between December of last year and February of this year. Police say that Kim employed his own style of "Korean Wave marketing": proudly noting on the handbills and Internet ads that the men were Korean.

A police insider says, "The male workers would either perform a nude show, or perform various other kinds of lewd acts using their naked bodies." The establishment was uncovered by Chinese public security officials in February, and the owner is currently being tried, while the employees were deported after serving 15-30 days in prison. Police say that they have received a statement from Kim that he even had a recruiter to bring Korean men and Korean Chinese to work at his bar. Police are currently trying to locate the man.

(englishnews@chosun.com )