<figure id="attachment_473433" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473433" style="width: 1500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="bdb260c5"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/07/71458e3b48c85ef768405cc6fcfaef81.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473433" class="wp-caption-text">An entertainment district in Seoul, South Korea. Some of the private karaoke rooms known as “norebang” offer services where women can be sent to the customer’s room. Although the number of brothels has decreased following the enforcement of the “Special Act on the Prevention of Prostitution,” which strengthened penalties for sex trafficking brokers, sex establishments have not disappeared (2008).</figcaption></figure>
<p> In this series by Akira Ikoma, a sex industry journalist who has been examining how countries around the world regulate sex work, we have previously introduced the “Nordic Model,” the “Legalization Model,” and the “Decriminalization Model.” In Part 1 of this fourth and final installment, we will focus on the “Prohibitionist Model,” which is primarily adopted in Asia.</p>
<h3><span class="strongInContent"> What Is the Prohibitionist Model?</span></h3>
<p> The “prohibitionist model” completely criminalizes the sex trade and punishes those involved. Also known as the “punitive approach,” it prohibits selling or buying sex, as well as brokering, soliciting, and providing venues for such activities. The specific offenses and penalties vary by country and society.</p>
<p> The prohibitionist model is rooted in a moral and order-oriented perspective that views the buying and selling of sex itself as an “evil.” The argument is that <span class="strongInContent">“prostitution is a harmful act that violates public order and morals, and constitutes sexual depravity, so it must be eradicated.”</span> In principle, those who sell sex (primarily women) are treated not as “victims” but as “perpetrators (criminals).” The aim is to eliminate various associated “evils” from society by criminalizing the act of prostitution.</p>
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<p> This was the policy adopted by many countries until the mid-20th century, and there are still quite a few countries—such as China and the Philippines—that maintain this stance today. The United States (excluding Nevada, where brothels are legalized) is another prime example.</p>
<p> South Korea, which had long maintained a complete ban on the sex trade under the “Act on the Prevention of Immoral Acts” (enacted in 1961 and repealed in 2004), is one of the countries that adopted the prohibitionist model.</p>
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<p> In 2004, the “Special Act on the Prevention of the Sex Trade” came into effect, significantly strengthening penalties for pimps.While the law fundamentally <span class="strongInContent">“punishes both the buyer and the seller,”</span> it incorporates elements of the Nordic model, which decriminalizes women who sell sex, and includes a provision <span class="strongInContent">stating that “even women arrested for sex work will not be punished as offenders if they were ‘coerced.’”</span></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" “Prohibition of Sex Work”: The Reality in South Korea"></div>
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<figure id="attachment_473434" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473434" style="width: 1145px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="db34ce7d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/07/031d0a76b94c567df3fb8488c3bb2989.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473434" class="wp-caption-text">A red-light district that used to be located in front of Yongsan Station in Seoul, South Korea. The women who worked in such places lost their jobs due to the enforcement of the “Special Act on the Prevention of the Sale of Sex.” As a result, protests and rallies calling for amendments to the law have been held frequently (2006).</figcaption></figure>
<h3><span class="strongInContent"> There are also calls to “legalize it.”</span></h3>
<p> However, in order for women to seek legal redress, they must prove that they are “victims of coercion.” It is extremely difficult to prove that sex work was forced upon them, and as a result, many women are being punished, or—even if they were coerced—are unable to come forward for fear of penalties.</p>
<p> The prejudice and resistance from some men—who claim <span class="strongInContent">that “women are engaging in prostitution voluntarily” or that “punishing only the male buyers constitutes reverse discrimination”</span> —also appears to be one of the reasons why women are punished as well.</p>
<p> Although the sex trade has been illegal in South Korea for many years, the reality is that it exists everywhere. It is not uncommon for visits to sex establishments to be regarded as “business entertainment,” and there have even been reports of companies claiming expenses for prostitution as business expenses.Karaoke bars that dispatch young female companions are so popular that new locations continue to open even amid an economic downturn. The law has become a dead letter.</p>
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<p> Although the government is working to crack down on the sex industry, many establishments continue to operate. The sheer scale of the sex industry is the reason behind the lack of effective enforcement. The police are understaffed, and with too many officers having ties to the sex industry, it seems they are unable to carry out large-scale raids.Furthermore, even factoring in the risk of arrest and penalties, the fact that it remains a “lucrative” business is said to be one reason the number of establishments isn’t decreasing. Some argue <span class="strongInContent">, “Prostitution is already deeply entrenched; rather than aiming to eradicate it by treating it as illegal, it would be better to legalize it in order to establish a safe working environment.”</span></p>
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<p> Consequently, there are strong calls for the immediate repeal of the “Special Act on the Sale of Sex.” Demonstrations and rallies by women who sell sex have been held frequently since the law’s enactment, with participants repeatedly calling for <span class="strongInContent">“amendments to the Special Act on the Sale of Sex,” “opposition to the closure of sex establishments on the grounds that there is no support for women,”</span> and <span class="strongInContent">“guarantees of the right to life.”</span></p>
<p> Furthermore, since the law’s enactment, the number of women traveling abroad—to countries such as Japan, the United States, China, and Australia—to engage in prostitution has reportedly increased. Their number is estimated to exceed 100,000, and arrests overseas are said to have doubled. Given this situation, there is ongoing debate over <span class="strongInContent">whether</span> legal crackdowns <span class="strongInContent">are “effective in protecting a healthy sex industry.”</span></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Thailand’s Prohibitionist Stance: “Strict on Sexual Morality”"></div>
<figure id="attachment_473436" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473436" style="width: 1500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="43f7bc43"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/07/a94656cca4caf66c8c2b2aa471ceed25.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473436" class="wp-caption-text">Pattaya, Thailand, is about a two-hour drive from the capital, Bangkok. It is a world-renowned resort where bright beaches by day contrast with the alluring neon lights of the night, and it is known as a “paradise on earth” due to its high concentration of adult entertainment establishments. The photo shows a go-go bar tout (2008).</figcaption></figure>
<h3><span class="strongInContent"> The Reality: “One of the World’s Leading Sex Tourism Destinations”</span></h3>
<p> Although Thailand officially adopts a prohibitionist stance, in reality—much like South Korea—a massive sex industry has taken root. It is one of the world’s leading centers for sex tourism, with go-go bars and massage parlors proliferating in cities like Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket, attracting hordes of tourists from around the globe.</p>
<p> The sex industry is massive in economic scale and generates enormous revenue for the country. It also supports the underground economy and serves as a lifeline for women from a wide range of backgrounds, from college graduates to those from poor farming families.</p>
<p> In Thailand, the “Prostitution Prohibition Act” was enacted in 1960 and the “Prostitution Prevention and Prohibition Act” in 1996, making the sex industry illegal in principle.Operators of <span class="strongInContent">adult</span> entertainment establishments argue that <span class="strongInContent">“these acts are the result of mutual consent between adult men and women and are not illegal,”</span> while the police and local governments declare that “no illegal organized prostitution is taking place.”</p>
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<p> In Thailand, a Buddhist nation, sex work is reviled as <span class="strongInContent">“impure and unchaste”</span> and criticized as <span class="strongInContent">a “national disgrace.”</span> Many citizens are growing increasingly indignant that the country has gained notoriety as <span class="strongInContent">“one of the world’s leading sex tourism destinations.”</span></p>
<p> On the other hand, some argue, <span class="strongInContent">“Even if prostitution is made illegal, the existence of the sex industry cannot be hidden,” and “Making it illegal deprives sex workers of basic labor rights and protections and increases health risks.”“If it is legally recognized, violence against sex workers will decrease, and their rights and welfare can be ensured.”</span> As a result, calls for legalization or decriminalization have grown louder, and in recent years, a new bill to legalize prostitution has been under discussion.</p>
<p> However, concerns have been raised, such as <span class="strongInContent">: “If prostitution is legalized, well-established operators will have the resources to comply with legal regulations, but women working independently will not, leaving them without protection,” and “Decriminalization would allow unscrupulous operators who exploit women to go unchecked.”</span></p>
<p> Even today, the view that the sex industry should not be recognized remains deeply entrenched, and it is said that <span class="strongInContent">“regardless of which model is adopted, it will be difficult to improve the legal status of sex workers.”</span></p>
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<p> The prohibitionist model can rapidly shrink the market by strictly cracking down on the buying and selling of sex, but it also has many problems. The greatest concern is the “disregard for the human rights of those selling sex.”Women who have suffered violence at the hands of sex trade operators or clients often hesitate to report it to the police for fear of punishment, making it impossible to rescue them. Striking a balance between punishment and the protection of human rights is difficult.</p>
<p> Furthermore, if police crackdowns and enforcement are too severe, an underground black market emerges that falls outside the reach of government oversight. Conversely, if enforcement is not thorough, the sex industry will expand to meet the demand for prostitution, which is effectively left unchecked.The examples of South Korea and Thailand cited earlier illustrate this point. Simply enacting laws that “prohibit the sex trade” is unlikely to resolve these various problems.</p>

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<p> In [Part 2], we discuss regulations on the sex trade—such as Japan’s Anti-Prostitution Law, which takes an “abolitionist” stance—and the future direction of such regulations.</p>
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<p><a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/473471"> [Part 2] “Should Men Who Buy Sex Be Punished!?” The “Future” of the “Prostitution Prevention Act,” 70 Years After Its Enactment: The Missing Perspective</a></p>
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<p> [References]</p>
<p> *The Black Hole of the Sex Trade* by Shinpak Ji-nyeong, Korokara, 2022</p>
<p> *Women’s Bodies and Human Rights* by Noriko Wakao, Gakuyo Shobo, 2005</p>
<p> *Sex Work Studies*, SWASH (eds.), Nihon Hyoronsha, 2018</p>
<p> *An Introduction to “Sexual Self-Determination”*, Shinji Miyadai, Yukiko Hayami, Naohide Yamamoto, Yoshiko Miya, Seiji Fujii, Hiroaki Hirano, Noriko Kanazumi, and Yuji Hirano; Kinokuniya Bookstore, 1998</p>
<p> In addition, I consulted numerous other books and online sources.</p>

<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" [The Reality of the Sex Trade] Sex Industries in Asian Countries"></div>
<figure id="attachment_473437" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473437" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="080b5931"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/07/9d320bb53b213c48cc4d853e0c0792a3.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473437" class="wp-caption-text">“Amsterdam,” a high-end massage parlor in Bangkok, Thailand. In Thailand, “massage parlors” are equivalent to what are known as “soaplands” in Japan. Although the sex trade is illegal in Thailand, it is tolerated in practice; there are no penalties for purchasing sexual services, and, in principle, one cannot be arrested for doing so (as of 2008).</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_473438" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473438" style="width: 1862px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="833651eb"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/07/88c2f72820d72afa5f0b41f839f1b96c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473438" class="wp-caption-text"> “Linsen North Road,” the Japanese district in Taipei, Taiwan. In Taiwan, prostitution is legal only within special zones called “sex trade zones,” but in reality, sex establishments such as saunas and outcall services exist even outside these designated zones (2003).</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_473440" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473440" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="bb2f070e"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/07/2c85d8f424a034ae0346274bb925f021.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473440" class="wp-caption-text"> The entertainment district of Macau, China. Huge hotels with casinos line the streets. Saunas offering sexual services can be found here and there throughout the district (’07)</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_473441" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473441" style="width: 1500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5fd29ead"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/07/a8c5eebb3c63a8c217b8da270cb356c2.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473441" class="wp-caption-text"> Angeles, one of the Philippines’ leading red-light districts. The U.S. military’s Clark Air Force Base was once located nearby. The streets are lined with go-go bars and KTVs (karaoke clubs), and the city is also known as the “City of Angels.” While the buying and selling of sex is illegal in the Philippines, the reality is that various forms of the sex industry exist (’07).</figcaption></figure>


 Akira Ikoma

 Amid moves to revise Japan’s Anti-Prostitution Law, what is the current state of sex trade enforcement around the world? In Part 1 of the fourth installment of Akira Ikoma’s series, he introduces the “prohibitionist model” adopted primarily by Asian countries.

 Sex Work Around the World and the State, Part 4: Part 1

&#8220;Prostitutes Are Criminals, Not Victims&#8221;: The Paradox of &#8220;Prohibitionism,&#8221; Where the Sex Industry Thrives Despite Strict Crackdowns

“Prostitutes Are Criminals, Not Victims”: The Paradox of “Prohibitionism,” Where the Sex Industry Thrives Despite Strict Crackdowns

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