Modern-day Comfort Women in Korea

By Jay Padlan APMMF- Korea Coordinator

SEOUL - On the night of Nov. 29, 2001 at minus 6 degrees Celsius weather, the leaders of KASAMMAKO, an alliance of migrant community and associations in Korea called up and asked me to immediately go to Uijungbu district, south of Seoul. I was informed that there were women we needed to talk to because they had just escaped from the 'prostitution' club near the U.S. bases.

It was almost midnight when my companion and I reached Uijungbu. We were greeted by Neneth, the woman who sheltered the three woman for a day and contacted the cousin of one of victims. The women were a bit restless as they narrated their stories. Their voices shook and at times they were hysterical as they told us of their ordeal. One of them cried as they told us about their escape from the vicious Roxy club.

Sarah, 27 yrs old, Judy Anne, 27, Frances, 26 yrs old, Wendie 23, and Chelle (not their real names) arrived in Korea on Nov. 24, 2001, hoping to work in a factory as they were promised by the recruiting travel agency. These women told us that they decided to take the risk of working abroad because of lack opportunities in the Philippines. They scoured different recruiting agencies in Manila for two months before Sarah and Judy Anne were referred to a travel agent cum recruiter in Malate, who urged them to go to South Korea.

It was there that they met the other women for the first time. They were asked to pay 130,000 pesos (3,000 U.S. dollars) and were told that they were going to work in a garment factory and earn 600 U.S. dollars. The six women paid the placement fee and waited again. After a long wait, they confronted the agent who promised them that they would leave for Korea on Nov. 24 with ''trainee visas". Most migrant workers in Korea can come and work legally only through trainee visas.

But the day before their departure, the six women received their passports and visas. They were surprised to see that their visas were tourist ones. Since they were to leave the next day, the recruiter told them not to worry as a Korean broker would arrange for their jobs once they get there. When they arrived in Korea on Nov. 24, they were held by immigration for a day and were told that they would be deported the following day. But early the next morning, the Korean broker came and picked them up and later brought to their residence where they stayed for two days.

The Korean broker, a certain Mr Tashin, made a different offer this time, different from what was promised in the Philippines. He said that there was no available work in the factory. So instead, they were brought to an American club named Roxy in Ujungbu, and were promised 400 dollars, plus tips from customers. The six were told that they would only be serving drinks, so they were shocked with what they saw: there were many American soldiers in the club who were kissing and holding women.

That same night, the manager told them what they should do and a Korean woman brought them skimpy clothes to wear. Luckily, they were able to persuade the Korean woman and the manager to allow them first to observe, and let them start working the next night. They cried all night, knowing by now that they had been victimised. They next morning, they went around the club and told the guard they were going to take a walk around the club.

Once they got out, they walked to a store where they met a Filipina and informed her about their situation. The Filipina woman then hid them, and brought them to members of KASAMMAKO. The above story is just one of the concrete examples of how Filipinas are sex-trafficked.

Partial results of a survey conducted among nearly 600 prostituted women in Korea:

Source: EQUALITY TRADE UNION - Migrants Branch http://www.migrant.nodong.net