On the 24th (local time), the British BBC shed light on the controversy over the recent hosting of the ‘Adult Festival’ (2024 KXF The Fashion) in Korea.
In an article titled ‘The fate of Korea’s largest sex festival,’ the BBC said, “Issues of sexual diversity and gender equality are intertwined in adult festivals.” “The organizers say it blocks free expression, while women’s groups claim that women’s human rights are violated,” the report said.
The BBC also reported how the adult festival was canceled after changing the location several times due to local authorities’ disapproval and criticism from women’s groups. This event was originally scheduled to be held on the 20th and 21st in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. However, it was canceled due to opposition from women’s groups and local governments. Afterwards, the venue was repeatedly changed to Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on the Han River in Seoul, and a bar in Apgujeong, Seoul, before being canceled.
The BBC explained, “Korea is known to have a conservative approach to sex and adult entertainment. Nudity and striptease in public places are prohibited, and selling or distributing hardcore pornography is also illegal.”
Lee Hee-tae, CEO of the organizer PlayJoker, told the BBC that he had received death threats over this incident, adding, “I didn’t do anything illegal, but I was treated like a criminal.”
Representative Lee said, “I had high expectations for the adult festival, which is proud to be the first and largest in Korea. There are adult festivals in almost all developed countries, but in Korea, the related culture does not even exist. “I want to take the first step.” In addition to adult festivals, Play Joker also held a street performance last year that allowed people to touch their own breasts through a hole in a box.
Representative Lee said, “In Korean society, attitudes toward sex and pornography are stuck in the past. “I wanted to object to this,” he said. “If you consume pornography online and log out of the site, you act innocent. “The government authorities are hypocrites.” At the same time, he said, “We will hold a larger event in June,” and “Currently, several politicians are on my side.”
On the other hand, Go Eun-chae, director of Suwon Women’s Hotline, said, “Adult festivals are not sex festivals, but rather exploitation and objectification of women,” and “the sex industry instigates violence against women.” “There is a culture of sexual violence pervasive in Korea, and men enjoyed the opportunity to express their sexual preferences freely even outside of this festival,” she said.
The BBC reported that in Gangnam, one of the venues scheduled to hold the event, there was mixed public opinion among men and women, but the majority responded that banning the event itself was excessive.
The BBC said, “Korean politics is still largely conservative and driven by traditional values, and the Korean authorities have previously been criticized for suppressing diversity through excessive measures,” adding, “The authorities will have to figure out how to navigate this tricky dilemma.” “He said.
Previously, the organizers announced that it would be held in the Apgujeong Rodeo Street area in Gangnam-gu without disclosing the exact location. Accordingly, Gangnam-gu Office delivered an official notice to food service establishments in the area informing them of the ban on violating the Food Sanitation Act. On the 18th, the organizers announced that they would cancel this event, saying they were concerned about the safety of AV actors.
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