Paju Mayor Son Baechan: “Complete Dismantling of Prostitution Zone... Principles Remain Unshaken”

Name Changed to "Daechubeol" to Remove Stigma from "Yongjugol"

Unwavering Support Requested from Sincere Volunteers and Public Officials

Mayor Son: "We Will Respond Firmly to Malicious Agitation and Attempts to Undermine Governance"

Son Baechan, Mayor of Paju City in Gyeonggi Province, has firmly rebutted suspicions from some quarters that the city’s policy to shut down prostitution zones is backtracking. On July 9, he announced that eradicating prostitution and completely dismantling the prostitution zone remain the unwavering guiding principles of his administration since taking office, and that he will respond resolutely to the spread of false information and any attempts to undermine city governance.

Panorama of Paju City Hall. Provided by Paju City

Marking his first week in office, Mayor Son stated during a city administration work briefing, “The goal of eradicating prostitution in Daechubeol is an absolute and unshakeable principle. I will pursue the dismantling of the prostitution zone by applying the law more strictly and thoroughly than any previous mayor.”

Paju City also announced that, starting with this statement, it will use the name “Daechubeol” in a limited way, instead of the previously used “Yongjugol.” The city explained that this measure is intended to remove the longstanding negative image attached to a specific area, restore residents’ honor, and signal its determination to structurally dismantle the prostitution zone.

The city emphasized that its policy aims not for simple physical barriers or temporary closures, but for the complete dismantling of the prostitution zone. At the same time, it will launch a public discussion process to minimize social conflict. To this end, the city plans to quickly establish a deliberative body and set out a roadmap with the goal of producing initial results by the end of this year.

Addressing recent allegations of policy backtracking, Mayor Son said, “I am concerned that these may be deliberate attempts to slander the new mayor and disrupt city governance. We will respond firmly to any acts that spread false information and create confusion in the city administration.”

He continued, “There must never be any wavering among the volunteers and public officials who have sincerely dedicated themselves to eradicating prostitution in Daechubeol. At this critical time, as we meticulously review the work carried out over the past four years and check for any procedural issues, I ask everyone not to be swayed by groundless rumors.”

Mayor Son also made clear his intention to correct the perception that the anti-prostitution policy has been viewed as a development project. “As confirmed in the transition committee’s report, if there are any lingering effects of excessive government involvement that have shifted the focus from the original goal to development logic, we will decisively eliminate them. To ensure the efforts of public officials and volunteers are not diminished, we will focus solely on the original objectives of eradicating prostitution and completely dismantling the prostitution zone,” he said.

He further emphasized, “No matter how just the purpose, private actions outside the bounds of the law cannot be protected. The safety of volunteers and stakeholders is paramount, so everyone must act according to the official schedules and policies of the relevant departments to ensure that both public officials and volunteers are legally protected.”

Meanwhile, starting with an official meeting with anti-prostitution civic groups on July 6, Paju City has begun to formalize its policy of dismantling the prostitution zone in accordance with legal procedures. The city plans to continue pursuing the complete dismantling of the zone without interruption, combining public discussion processes with administrative measures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.