Laws Related to Sex Trafficking

□ Act on the Prevention of Sexual Traffic and Protection, etc. of Victims

Article 5 (Educational Programs to Prevent Sexual Traffic) ➀ The heads of State agencies, local governments, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and other public institutions determined by Presidential Decree shall conduct educational programs to prevent sex trafficking to nurture sound values regarding sex, prevent sex trafficking, and protect human rights, and shall submit the outcomes to the Minister of Gender Equality and Family.

□ Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Prevention of Sexual Traffic and Protection, etc. of Victims

Article 2 (Provision of Educational Programs to Prevent Sexual Traffic) ② The heads of State agencies, local governments, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and public institutions (hereinafter “heads of state agencies”) shall provide educational programs of at least one hour to prevent sex trafficking, at least once every year, to persons or students of relevant institutions or organizations pursuant to Article 5 (1) of the Act. In such cases, such education shall be provided to those newly appointed to such institutions or organizations within two months from the date of appointment.

③ Educational programs to prevent sex trafficking under paragraph (2) may be provided with regard to the following, through various means including lecture, audio-visual education, and Internet websites, but mandatorily including face-to-face education.

④ The heads of state agencies shall submit to the Minister of Gender Equality and Family the results of educational programs to prevent sex trafficking by the end of February of the following year.

□ Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic

Article 21 (Penalties) ① Any person engaged in sex trafficking shall be punished by imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to three million won, detention, or penalty.

□ State Public Officials Act

Article 63 (Duties to Maintain Dignity) No public officials shall engage in acts damaging their dignity, regardless of relevance to their duties.

Article 78 (Grounds for Disciplines) ① For any public officials falling under the following, a decision for discipline shall be requested, and a relevant disciplinary measure shall be taken based on the result of such decision for discipline:

3. Where they engage in acts of damaging their decency or dignity, regardless of relevance to their duties.

Article 79 (Types of Disciplines) Discipline shall be divided into expulsion, dismissal, demotion, suspension, wage reduction, and reprimand.

□ Regulations on Handling Corruption of Public Officials

Article 3 (Standards for Handling Corruption of Public Officials) Standards for handling corruption of public officials shall be as provided for in attached Tables 1 through 4.

Degree of corruption and negligence Types of corruption	Serious degree of corruption and existence of intention	Serious degree of corruption and existence of serious negligence; or minor degree of corruption and existence of intention	Serious degree of corruption and existence of light negligence; or minor degree of corruption and existence of serious negligence	Minor degree of corruption and existence of light negligence
7. Violation of duties to maintain dignity
c. Sexual harassment	Request for decision of severe discipline	Request for decision of severe discipline	Request for decision of severe or light discipline	Request for decision of light discipline
d. Sex trafficking

<References: News articles on sex trafficking>

- Judge Busted for Sex Trafficking in Officetel in Gangnam District -

A judge currently in office was arrested by the police for engaging in sex trafficking in an officetel in the Gangnam District of Seoul and is now under police investigation.

The ○○ Police Station officially confirmed that Judge ○○ of the ○○ Court was under police custody for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic, among others.

This judge reportedly stated that he had been drunk and that he had gone to the officetel after obtaining a telephone number from a flyer.

- Public Official of a Governmental Agency Apprehended for Sex Trafficking -

A public official in the Ministry of ○○ is currently under police investigation for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic.

Last March, this official drank at a bar in the Gangnam District of Seoul and went to a nearby hotel for paid sex with a hostess, where he was arrested by the police.

- City Public Official Expelled for Sex Trafficking -

The City of ○○ has recently decided to expel a public official accused of engaging in sex trafficking of a high school girl.

The City of ○○ removed the public official from his position last month who is currently being investigated by the police. After holding a meeting of its personnel management committee, the city made this recent decision to expel the official.