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High rates of unemployment, lack of government support, and poverty caused women in South Korea to depend on prostitution from the 1950's to the mid-1980s

U.S.-Korea Relations and Militarized Prostitution

National security and economic growth

U.S. Military Government Rule in South Korea 1945-1948
In September 1945, United States Armed Forces occupied South Korea after Korea's liberation from Japan. Immediately, these events constructed the foundation of government sanctioned prostitution The U.S. military acquired the original system of licensed military prostitution that was institutionalized in Korea under Japan’s rule. The formation of licensed prostitution by Japan established registration protocols and mandatory STD examinations for Korean sex workers. Once the U.S. military occupied Korea, these examinations were conducted by the Bureau of Public Health and Welfare. In order to protect U.S. soldiers from contracting diseases from prostitutes, the service bars and clubs were relocated near and within military bases. By confining the prostitutes within a small area, the U.S. military had power to regulate and monitor the women's activities and health. As the U.S. military government tolerated and regulated prostitution, women's organizations argued for the abolishment of prostitution. In response, the United States passed The Abolishment of Public Prostitution Law in 1947. This abolished licensed prostitution; however, the law increased the proliferation of private prostitution.

Post Korean War 1953-1970
Camptown prostitution became a permanent structure in South Korea after the Korean War and the Mutual Defense Treaty. The Mutual Defense Treaty formally granted the U.S. military to occupy and establish military bases in South Korea as an ally against the threat of North Korea. The aftermath of the Korean War resulted in extreme poverty and chaos. This produced a large influx in prostitutes as women resorted to sex work in order to support themselves and their family members. The "mass-production" of prostitutes was supported

Starting in the 1960s, an official organized system was established to provide the U.S. military men with entertainment and leisure that fulfilled their sexual fantasies, such as peep shows and strip clubs. These camptowns existed as a site for the American GI's R&R.

Camptown Clean-Up Campaign 1970s
The significant increase in camptown problems and tensions among community relations resulted in a number of policies that sought to improve U.S. military camp areas. On December 22, 1971, President Pak established the BCCUC, the Beautification and Camptown Clean-Up Campaign. Through the collaboration of the United States and the Republic of Korea, these policies were implemented to prevent and correct unfavorable conditions and base-community relations. The United States' military and the BCCUC worked separately on solving issues that pertained to the camptown improvements.

The BCCUC's goal was to create a favorable image of U.S. servicemen in South Korea among Korean nationals. However; in order to do so, the BCCUC needed to tend to "source of embarrassment" which were the high rates of venereal disease among the American GI's and Korean sex workers. Registering prostitutes, enforcing STD examinations, and improving clinics were ways the BCCUC attempted to control prostitution and reduce the rates of sexually transmitted diseases. The U.S. military's goal was to improve the living conditions for U.S. servicemen and boost troop morale and discipline. By establishing the Subcommittee on Civil Military Relations, the U.S. military began to attend to these goals by focusing on eradicating sexually transmitted diseases and reducing racial discrimination. Other tasks included widening roads, improving sanitation, and making R&R establishments more accessible and inviting were some measures taken to improve the overall camptown environment.

It is argued that this campaign forced prostitutes to carry the weight of American-Korean relations.

South Korean Women's Movement 1980s
The women's movement against military prostitution began in the mid-1980s.

Mid-1980s

Policies
Foreign policies between The United States and Republic of Korea determined the U.S.'s occupation and influence in South Korea. Through collaboration between Korean leaders and the U.S. military, an institutionalized system transpired that tolerated and regulated prostitution. The arrival of American GI's resulted in an increase in clientele for R&R establishments and Korean sex workers.

Abolishment of Public Prostitution Law
The Abolishment of Public Prostitution Law (Public Act No. 7) was passed on November 11, 1947 and took effect on February 14, 1948. The U.S policy was installed in order to alter the system of licensed prostitution which was established in Korea under Japan's rule. Despite the abolishment of licensed prostitution, it only led to the “privatization” of prostitution and the widespread dispersement of prostitutes throughout the area. This made its difficult for the government to systematically regulate prostitutes and their activities; specifically, mandatory STD exams for prostitutes could no longer be enforced. This resulted in a large spike of STD's among prostitutes and the U.S. military Rehabilitation and welfare assistance for prostitutes were supposed to be apart of the new law; however, policymakers denied national funds towards these programs.

Through the Abolishment of Public Prostitution Law, the U.S. military government replaced licensed establishments of prostitution to camptowns near military bases. This provided a communal space for prostitutes and U.S. military men.

Mutual Defense Treaty
The United States' involvement in aiding South Korea during the Korean War (1950-1953) resulted in the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1953 that declared the Republic of Korea and the United States as military alliances. Through this treaty, the Republic of Korea formally granted military facilities, areas, and status for U.S. troops in Korea for an indefinite period. . The presence of U.S. military troops, under the Mutual Defense Treaty, were the product of high kijich'on prostitution rates.

Nixon Doctrine
In 1969, the Nixon Doctrine declared the need to reduce the United States' military involvement from Asia. This resulted in 20,000 U.S. servicemen being removed from South Korea and the formal withdrawal of American GI's from the DMZ. . Due to the economic dependence on the U.S. military's presence for jobs and income, prostitution decreased but competition significantly heightened among clubs, other businesses, and sex workers. Newspapers reported the significant economic losses and the widespread dislocation that occurred after the removal of U.S. troops. It was publicized that some establishments went from making $200 to $300 per night to a profit of $4 to $5. Many who lived near U.S. bases needed to relocate to more concentrated areas while others found work in different industries. The removal of U.S. troops under the the Nixon Doctrine caused an increase in camptown problems and great resentment towards the United States.

Camptown Clean-Up Campaign
The significant increase in camptown problems and tensions among community relations resulted in a number of policies that sought to improve U.S. military camp areas. On December 22, 1971, President Pak established the BCCUC, the Beautification and Camptown Clean-Up Campaign. Through the collaboration of the United States and the Republic of Korea, these policies were implemented to prevent and correct unfavorable conditions and base-community relations. These policies wished to create a favorable image of U.S. servicemen in South Korea while encouraging troop morale.

Kijich'on (Military Camptown)
The large army camptowns are mainly located near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) which is between North and South Korea. Kijich’on towns are neighbored to U.S. military camp bases and contain a combination of American and Korean residents. These towns consist of businesses and entertainment that serve the interests of U.S. military men. In brothels, bars, and clubs, these R&R establishments provide kijich'on women for American GI's.

Kyŏnggi Province
From the 1950s to the 1970s, the Kyŏnggi Province housed the majority of U.S. army troops and Korean sex workers. 18,551 of the estimated 36,924 Korean sex workers were located in the Kyŏnggi Province