In July 2012, Miss Kim was arrested by police for prostitution which is illegal in Korea. Resisting the charge, she applied for a constitutional judgment calling for a special law on prostitution. “I can’t live without doing prostitution because of my illness. The law is violating my basic human and equal rights,” she said. On April 9, 2015 the first public trial was held on the issue. There were diverse pros and cons on the matter. The issue at stake was whether prostitution should be designated as a legal occupation or not and which is more important controlling the manner in which someone earns a living or protecting an individual’s basic human rights.

People who assert the unconstitutionality of the law prohibiting prostitution argue that the law undermines the prostitute’s ability to take care of themselves. They claim that women are sexually assertive and have the right to self-determination. They think prostitution is only business transaction between individuals. They also say prostitution helps reduce sex crimes because everyone has sexual desires and having an outlet where their appetite is satisfied is required.

If prostitution becomes legal, however, can a prostitute be protected by law? I don’t think so. Prostitution violates human dignity. It allows buyers to think prostitutes are not human, just like doll which children play with carelessly. The current law helps many people realize prostitution is morally bad. There are many prostitutes who are forced to sell their bodies against their will. Some may be compelled to do it because of debt by a private moneylender or because of hallucinogens taken by mistake. Another reason may be because girls run away from home and end up in relationships with pimps who prostitute them out after the girls have nowhere else to return. Not all women want to sell themselves. No one voluntarily wants to be a doll that anyone can play with then dump when they are no longer required.

▲ (Google)

I would like to ask the proponents of legalization of prostitution ‘if your daughter wants to be a prostitute, would you accept her decision?’ If they love their daughter, they will say NO! People who put themselves in the prostitute’s position can understand their agony. Instead of trying to legalize the profession, they should try to find solutions to protect their dignity. Legalizing prostitution never can be the solution because it degrades their dignity and may even increase the number of buyers by legitimizing the service.

Legalizing prostitution has advantages, but it also has serious flaws. It can invade a person’s rights and nothing can compensate the women for this. The government and prostitutes should find other solution to protect their rights. Educational support could be a solution. Many prostitutes have physical problems, so they can’t stand for a long period of time. If they get the education they need, perhaps they can find more accommodating and suitable job.

The most important thing we can do as a society is to protect their human dignity. There are some prostitutes who think it is easy and it is just work, though they didn’t think that way at first. They need to bring attention to their situation and the government needs to propagate the importance of their self-worth and dignity. It is time we really think about what is more important in our life and society and put an end to this debate on legalizing prostitution.