**Controversy Over Support for Women Workers Ahead of Mia-ri Texas Closure**
As Mia-ri Texas, a sex trade area located in the Hawol-dong district of Seongbuk-gu, is set to close this year due to redevelopment in the area, concerns have been raised regarding inadequate support measures for the women working there.
On the 6th, according to Newsis, “Representative Lee Yeon-hee of the Democratic Party stated that in response to her inquiry to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, these women can receive support for housing and living expenses if they enter a victim facility after the dismantlement of the gathering place.”
Currently, approximately 200 women work in about 50 establishments in this area, and there are growing concerns that they may be left homeless without adequate measures when the area is demolished.
According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, if the women working in Mia-ri Texas enter a victim facility after the dismantlement, they can receive a living allowance of 350,000 KRW per month per person under the “National Basic Livelihood Security Program.”
However, this support is expected to be funded primarily through the budget of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which oversees the Basic Livelihood Security Program. It appears challenging for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to secure its own budget to sustain these women's livelihoods.
**Diverse Support Measures by Local Governments and Issues of Equity**
Looking at cases of closures in other sex trade gathering places, it has often been local governments, rather than the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, that have actively established ordinances to provide living expenses, housing support, and vocational training subsidies.
In the case of Yongjugol, Paju, the workers received living expenses of 1 million KRW per month and housing support of 14 million KRW through local government ordinances. In Pyeongtaek, Samri offered a one-time payment of 10 million KRW, while Wonju and Asan provided 6 million KRW, and Yeosu and Changwon offered 7 million KRW.
While support for the living expenses of workers is centered around local governments, there are criticisms regarding equity if only the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family funds support in Mia-ri.
Seongbuk-gu also established the “Seongbuk-gu Prevention of Prostitution and Self-sufficiency Support Ordinance for Victims of Prostitution,” but it appears that substantial support for living or relocation costs has not been provided.
On the 22nd of last month, the "Joint Action Committee for Support Measures for Women in the Mia-ri Sex Trade Area" held a press conference in front of the Government Seoul Office, urging the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to "immediately create policies and budgets for the self-sufficiency of women in prostitution."
**Current Support Policies and Future Tasks of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family**
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family stated that they are currently providing medical, legal, and vocational training support through a field support project for the gathering place.
They provide support for medical treatment costs related to diseases caused by prostitution and attorney fees for legal issues arising from employment relationships in prostitution.
Additionally, sex workers participating in the “Self-Sufficiency Support Center Participation Project” can work in communal workshops and receive 1.5 million KRW per month.
Last month, the Joint Action Committee conducted meetings with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Seongbuk-gu to discuss support measures for women in Mia-ri Texas.
During this meeting, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family expressed that they would review support plans for women in prostitution in Seongbuk-gu as a priority and discuss them further later.
Similar to the cases of closures in other sex trade gathering places, this indicates that local governments should be the ones to develop initial measures.
Image sources: Press conference urging the establishment of support measures for women in the Mia-ri sex trade area by the Joint Action Committee on the 22nd of last month / News1; On the morning of the 17th of last month, the Mia-ri Sex Workers Relocation Task Committee protested against the eviction execution of Mia-ri Texas in front of the Seongbuk-gu Office in Seoul / News1; On the morning of February 6, in front of the Seongbuk-gu Office in Seoul, Mia-ri sex workers shouted slogans demanding relocation measures / News1.
