Home News North Korea. Sources say the women were arrested and charged with committing ideological crimes. The apartment building is a special government-backed living accommodation for the blind. But as rations for people living there have dwindled, many of the blind occupants live elsewhere and allow their apartments to be used as brothels for a fee. This arrangement is mutually beneficial in that the blind resident receives a share of the proceeds of prostitution, and the identity of prostitutes is protected because the blind cannot see the faces of prostitutes or their clients.
While prostitution is illegal in North Korea, it appears to be generally tolerated by authorities, but with occasional crackdowns. Sources say that this particular crackdown occurred on the 25 th anniversary of the death of regime founder Kim Il Sung, grandfather of leader Kim Jong Un. When crackdowns occur, the blind apartment is a prime target, just as it was Monday night.
The source explained that both men and women were implicated in the raid but only the women are in danger of facing legal consequences. They say 15 people were caught. According to the source, local residents noted the double standard and spoke out against unfair treatment.
The second source said that whenever there are crackdowns, the blind residents also face legal repercussions. Prostitution is illegal in North Korea but defectors have claimed that it is widespread. In a February article, The Korea Observer reported that at that time there may have been as many as 25, active prostitutes in the country. The figure was based on a conversation between a defector and a South Korean lawmaker where the defector estimated that prostitutes were working in a North Korean city with a population of , residents.
Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Press Room About Contact. People wait for public transport as colorful apartment buildings are seen in the background in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, July 25, Click here to add your own comment.
