Workers hold a moment of silence in front of a portrait of a former sex worker, 35, who took her own life in September after enduring harassment from an illegal loan shark, outside the Seongbuk District Office in Seoul, Nov. 7. Korea times photo by Kwon Jung-hyun

Around 40 women, their faces hidden behind masks and sunglasses, gathered outside Seongbuk District Office in Seoul on Nov. 7, rallying for their right to remain where they are or receive support.

Though fully covered, their voices and presence were enough to discern that they were middle-aged women. With red headbands bearing the words "Solidarity and Struggle" and sashes saying "Fight for Survival," their determination was evident as they began chanting, "We want to live! Guarantee our right to survive! Seongbuk District, provide relocation support!"

These women are sex workers from "Miari Texas," Seoul's last remaining large-scale red-light district, located in the Singwolgok 1 redevelopment area. Redevelopment intensified after the 2004 Special Law on Prostitution as well as police crackdowns, and today, an estimated 130 sex workers remain.

Sex workers hold a rally outside Seongbuk District Office in Seoul, Nov. 7. Korea Times photo by Kwon Jung-hyun

Many sex workers lack relocation support because they don't qualify for displacement compensation as they are not considered residents or renters under the Urban and Residential Environment Improvement Act. In contrast, landlords and brothel owners have received compensation and left.

With few options for support, some of the women facing financial distress turned to illegal loan sharks for assistance. In a tragic story that highlighted their plight, protesters held a 49-day memorial for a 35-year-old sex worker who took her own life due to financial pressure from loan sharks. Her creditors went so far as to harass her by sending messages about her work in Miari to her daughter's kindergarten teacher.

Citing these hardships, the sex workers are calling for access to housing, job training and economic support to help themselves and their families.

One protester in her 40s expressed her fears: "If I leave, I will have nowhere to sleep. This work is all I've ever known. Now, as I get older, I don't know how I'll survive if I have to learn something new."

Another rally participant supporting a daughter with mental health needs said, "Even if I quit, I need support from the city and district to survive."

In recent years, cities like Jeonju and Daegu have successfully closed red-light areas, offering financial support. Jeonju provided up to 27 million won ($20,000) per worker for living, housing and job training when it dismantled its red-light area in 2017. Daegu offered up to 20 million won in 2019.

A portrait of a former sex worker and a sign displaying a statement written by her before her passing are displayed in front of Seongbuk District Office in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Kwon Jung-hyun

Seongbuk District, however, has noted the challenges in supporting the workers, explaining that such financial support typically requires the development association's involvement, which is complicated by the informal status of many workers.

A district official said, "Identifying and providing tailored support to individual workers is challenging, but we're working with the redevelopment association to push for as much compensation as possible."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.