International sex trafficking in women in Korea: Its causes, consequences and countermeasures

In the past, Korea exported labor and supplied migrant women who were employed in the entertainment sector abroad. Since 1987, the flow of migration from Korea began to change dramatically, and around 1996 it was reversed as Korea emerged as a major host country for foreign migrant workers, including those engaged in the sex industry. Even though its scale has diminished, the flow of Korean migrant workers and female entertainers from Korea to third countries continues. This paper deals with international trafficking in women in Korea. It illustrates that trafficking in human beings is not clearly defined and therefore is often confused or misunderstood. By taking a closer look at migrant women employed in the sex and entertainment sector in Korea, their motives to migrate, the migration process, their actual employment and living condition, this paper will show that some of these women could be victims of trafficking. Some of the main causes of trafficking in human beings will also be examined with reference to four different areas of analysis - the global capitalist system, employment/recruitment agencies, including international crime rings engaged in trafficking in human beings, the countries of origin and the host countries. A number of counter-trafficking measures will be suggested as part of the conclusion.