“Ah! Ah! Cover up (your naked body) quickly!”
Around 9:20 a.m. on the 17th, three police officers rushed to the scene, shouting this while holding a blanket outside the Seongbuk District Office in Samseon-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. A was dancing in front of the office when his pants fell down, and he ended up removing his top as well, running around naked. After a chase lasting about 40 seconds, A put his clothes back on.
A is a sex worker employed in the so-called 'Miaritexas,' an area known for sex work located in Hwayul-dong, Seongbuk-gu. A and approximately 60 others set up tents in front of the Seongbuk District Office and began a sit-in protest around 5:30 a.m. that day. They plan to maintain the sit-in around the clock with 2-3 people guarding the tents.
Miaritexas sex workers are demanding an 'immigration policy.' Participants in the assembly wore signs around their necks claiming, 'The Seongbuk District Office should formulate an immigration policy that reflects the reality of our sex workers.' One woman even lay down on the sidewalk in front of the office wearing pink pajamas.
◇ From nearly 300 operational establishments in Miaritexas, only 60-70 remain now
The situation has arisen because the area where Miaritexas sex work establishments are located has been designated as 'Shinwolgok District 1' and redevelopment is being pursued. Lotte Engineering & Construction plans to build 10 mixed-use buildings here, providing 2,244 apartments, 498 officetels, and 198 living accommodation facilities. The relocation of existing residents began in October 2023, but demolition work only started in December of last year.
Demolition of sex work establishments only began the day before (16th) with two locations being targeted. The Seongbuk District Office and the Seoul Northern District Court executed an eviction order in the area that day. However, unlike the busy streets where workers were actively demolishing properties, the area housing sex work establishments was littered with plastic chairs and trash. On the doors of the establishments lined along the narrow alley where sunlight does not shine, the words 'empty house' were written in red spray paint.
A merchant operating a supermarket nearby stated, “In the past, there were nearly 300 sex work establishments operating here, but now only 60-70 remain. Yet, hardly anyone comes here,” adding, “Some say they will not leave until the end, but I have heard that some are planning to depart by next month.”
◇ Sex workers who eat and sleep at sex work establishments say, 'If they demolish, we have nowhere to go'
Sex workers participating in the protest in front of the Seongbuk District Office say they have nowhere to go if the establishments are demolished. These establishments serve as both businesses and homes, and with little money, they have no proper place to move or work.
A, who was kicked out in pajamas after the establishment was demolished the day before, stated, still in pink pajamas and without shoes, in front of the Seongbuk District Office, “Where are we supposed to go now?” B (61), who continues to work as a sex worker, noted, “Now, they don't even hire us at restaurants.”
C (43), a co-chair of the Miaritexas migration policy committee and a sex worker, remarked, “All those who have not yet migrated and remain have their own stories,” adding, “I hope that (the Seongbuk District or Seoul) could at least provide a room that is 2-3 pyeong where we can lie down.”
The migration policy committee plans to continue gatherings in front of the Seongbuk District Office every Thursday at 9 a.m. The committee stated that whenever the demolition of Miaritexas establishments takes place, the expelled sex workers will stay in tents in front of the office.