Ministry Rewards Men for Staying Away From Sex Trade

Chosun Ilbo, December 26, 2006

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is giving away cash and gift certificates to men who pledge not to frequent hostess bars for their year-end parties.

The ministry has been holding the event, which ends today, on its website since Dec. 6 to promote “healthy” year-end parties. It offers altogether W3.6 million (US$1=W928) -- W1 million to the no. 1 team, W500,000 to two no. 2 teams and so on -- for groups of men who pledge to steer clear of places of ill repute for their year-end parties. The ministry on Monday said 1,200 teams or some 20,000 men had taken part in the event so far. The favorites as of Sunday were a group from a corporation with some 1,000 male staff. In a separate event, the ministry is offering movie tickets and restaurant gift certificates worth W1.2 million to men who give the right answer to the question what is meant by “going for another round?” It was “another beer,” and emphatically not “adjourn to the nearest hostess bar.”

Not everyone supports the drive. Some Netizens are asking why public money is being spent on helping men drink more alcohol. One complained that the campaign brands all men as customers of prostitutes. But a ministry official said its own survey found that 94 percent of sex for money is driven by men who drink at office gatherings. "The idea is not just to crack down on such practices but motivate men to create a healthy office gathering culture, which is why we’re offering money to them to spend at their office gatherings.”