Seoul

[OldLeaf]

From the Korean Herald newspaper, Dec 9, 2002:

SEOUL TO REDEVELOP 3 RED-LIGHT DISTRICTS

Seoul City plans to begin redevelopment work on the three major red-light districts in the nation’s capital in 2004 as part of its new urban development project, officials said yesterday.

“The city government will draw up redevelopment plans for the districts by the end of 2003,” a city official said. “Work on redevelopment projects will begin in 2004.”
The three red-light districts—Miari Texas, Cheongnyangni 588 and Yongsan Station Texas—are all located north of the Han River that flows through the capital from east to west.

Mayor Lee Myung-bak, who was sworn in as Seoul’s top administrator in July, has been pushing for the urban development plan, which is aimed at giving a makeover to Seoul’s northern areas.

The businessman-turned-mayor put forward the blueprint under which three “new towns” will be built in the northern half so as to achieve balanced development in the capital.
“The city administration will lead the redevelopment projects because various interests, including those of brothel owners, are at stake,” the official said.

The sprawling Cheongnyangni 588, which is not far from downtown Seoul, will be replaced with a civilian-invested railroad station, with its construction permit likely to be issued within the month, the official said, “A budget of 120 million won has been earmarked for fleshing out the district’s redevelopment plan.”

The Office of Dongdaemun (East Gate) Ward, where the red-light district stands, drew up its redevelopment plan, but it has made little progress since then.

Another civilian-invested railroad station will be put up in place of the current Yongsan Station Texas area.

Miari Texas will be redeveloped as part of a plan to build a new town in its vicinity.
The official said the city government will work with women’s organizations to help prostitutes working in the red-light districts find other jobs.

“Education about re-employment is important because prostitutes may work underground in residential or suburban areas unless they land new jobs.” he said.

Prostitution is illegal in Korea, but red-light districts thrive in large cities because law enforcement in the areas is almost nonexistent.

Miari Texas is host to about 250 brothels, where some 1,000 prostitutes work. The largest in the capital. Around 400 women work at 147 brothels in Cheongnyangni 588, and the 65 brothels of Yongsan Station Texas employ 109 prostitutes.

[Nico]

TDC is short for tongduchon the area right outside of Camp Casey and Tokori is what american GI's call the area outside of Camp Hovey. It's a 5 dollar taxi ride between both places. If I get a Chance tonight I will post a list of the clubs in both areas.

[Randy Farang]

Sorry to see that even Seoul is feeling the morality crackdown. Some of my fondest memories of trips to the Orient are of evenings on Hooker Hill. (The best of which involved two sisters one winter night when it was colder than a witch's tit outside, and wonderfully warm in a traditional Korean bed, particularly with two willing participants.) Wish I were there in Itawon right now! Randy

[Cebu Local]

hutsori
koreans are everywhere in cebu,malls,markets beaches etc.the key is to get the local resident koreans earning philippine incomes,higher then filipinos,but lower then normal koreans,for example a korean interpreter at hotel earns about 18 thousand pesos or about 350$ a month,but she gets an apartment like an airconditioned furnished studio for tourist about 70$ a month,a maid at 40$ a month,a meal at a foodcourt for 1$,fine dining at 5-6$,five star hotel,so she has a lower income,but a higher standard of living.then do korean things KTV,talk about herself etc,tourist guides and students are also good groups of koreans to work on,anyway this is not the proper area so post me on the cebu board happy hunting

[Photoman]

Things are going to change in Seoul. Read the newspaper article below.
***
Seoul to redevelop 3 red-light districts

Seoul City plans to begin redevelopment work on the three major red-light districts in the nation's capital in 2004 as part of its new urban development project, officials said yesterday.

"The city government will draw up redevelopment plans for the districts by the end of 2003," a city official said. "Work on redevelopment projects will begin in 2004."

The three red-light districts - Miari Texas, Cheongnyangni 588 and Yongsan Station Texas - are all located north of the Han River that flows through the capital from east to west.

Mayor Lee Myung-bak, who was sworn in as Seoul's top administrator in July, has been pushing for the urban development plan, which is aimed at giving a makeover to Seoul's northern areas.

The businessman-turned-mayor put forward the blueprint, under which three "new towns" will be built in the northern half so as to achieve balanced development in the capital.

"The city administration will lead the redevelopment projects because various interests, including those of brothel owners, are at stake," the official said.

The sprawling Cheongnyangni 588, which is not far from downtown Seoul, will be replaced with a civilian-invested railroad station, the construction permit for which is likely to be issued within the month, the official said. "A budget of 120 million won has been earmarked for fleshing out the district's redevelopment plan."

The Office of Dongdaemun (East Gate) Ward, where the red-light district stands, drew up its redevelopment plan, but it has made little progress since then.

Another civilian-invested railroad station will be put up in place of the current Yongsan Station Texas area.

Miari Texas will be redeveloped as part of a plan to build a new town in its vicinity.

The official said the city government will work with women's organizations to help prostitutes working in the red-light districts find other jobs.

"Education about re-employment is important because prostitutes may work underground in residential or suburban areas unless they land new jobs," he said.

Prostitution is illegal in Korea, but red-light districts thrive in large cities because law enforcement in the area is almost nonexistent.

Miari Texas is host to about 250 brothels where some 1,000 prostitutes work, the largest in the capital. Around 400 women work at 147 brothels in Cheongnyangni 588, and the 65 brothels of Yongsan Station Texas, employ 109 prostitutes.

[MrGhostRider]

nico,

what is TDC and tokori? never heard of them...

thanks

[Hutsori]

daniel_you,

I live in Seoul, also. Have lived in Manila, Hong Kong, and Taipei previously. When there's a 3-day holiday I'm on a out-bound flight. I do partake of the local attractions, but it's a very different, and much better, vibe in SE Asia.

cebu local,

Thanks for the update. I've hooked up with a few koreans and Japanese girls on holiday or studying in the PI. Did some diving and visited Cebu's bikini bars a few years ago; will have to make a return. Where are the korean girls? Do they want to do the korean thing, i.e. talk about her future, practice her English, and then sing a few hundred songs, or are they on the prowl for a non-korean go-chu (hot pepper)?

stud_lee,
Certainly having free lodging in Seoul makes it more affordable, but I'd be willing to bet you the cost of an Angeles bar fine that you'll get far more bangs for your buck in Angeles than in Seoul. You can stay in decent places--with a pool!--in Angeles for less than $20 a night. Food is very cheap, beer at $1 -$2 bottle, no pushy & pouty you-buy-me-20,000-won-drink juicy girls, and the bar fine is 1000 pesos--less than $20. The girls are succulent.(Check out the Angeles thread.) At no time have I ever been hassled. The koreans are into the face thing, and this adds up to a lot of $$$, a lot of time, and not much return. Quote: Never a public outcry when something bad happens to a female sex worker. True, unless a foreign male is involved.
Having been in Asia for more than a decade I feel safer here than anywhere else--even with recent events I don't hesitate to visit any place in SE Asia. If you're thinking about Taiwan you better come to Seoul instead. Taiwan's safe, but no vibrant scene, and as pricey as Seoul. Japan? Japan?! Take a look at the Japan thread and then you'll reconsider. China however can be good fun.

beast,

With a name like that you want a 3-star hotel? The Hamilton and the Itaewon hotels are 3-star, and they're $100. Stay in the yogwan right atop hooker hill. You can prowl, hook up, send her on her way, and prowl again.

samter,

Read the previous posts. It's all there.

[Nico]

Has anyone been to Yong Ju Gol recently? Thinking of going there this weekeend.Thats the closest place for me to go and have some fun. I have already expereinced TDC and Tokori. Tokori is by far a better place in my opinion than TDC. The prices were decent to me and the girls were amazing.I have been there twice and scored both times with russian girls in Foxwoods. It's a very nice club and once payment has been made you are escorted upstairs where business is conducted. It's a little easier if you go early that way theres not so many of those damn MP courtesy patrols poping in. I was wondering though what do you non GI's show the MP's when they stop you? I saw one american younger looking guy get stopped in TDC and he flashed something and was on his way. Thanks

[kimchisniffer]

Cebu local...

So are you saying that if I go to Cebu, I can enjoy the company of Korean women who are living in Cebu? That sounds very interesting. How is the selection?

[Cebu Local]

stud lee
well maybe it is a matter of living standards,80$ here will buy groceries for 2-3 weeks for 1 person or buy you 160 beers in a bar.so the students here find 80$ a lot of money compared to the states or korea regards

[Waiman]

This is my first post to this message board. I have been reading up on the info and look forward to posting when i get back. I will be in seoul on dec 17-25 and looking to have fun. Anyone who will be there and want to help can email me at samter67@msn.com. I can't speak korean except for phrases so where would be the best places to check out. Thanks for the help.
samter

[Stud_Lee]

Originally posted by cebu local
hutsori and stud lee
If the scene in Korea is too expensive but you like koreans who are some of the most beautiful women try koreans outside korea

LOL. I've been trying to do that stateside for years! You guys have any suggestions?

[Cebu Local]

hutsori and stud lee
i regularly surf this area,since almost a third of my customers in my travel business back home in cebu are korean.thousands of koreans live here in cebu,with many of them of them students studying english.some are tourists out for a fling,when in manila,i stay near a korean area .IMHO koreans are cheaper outside korea,especially those short of funds,have tried about 6 koreans here for about 60-80$ for all night,3000 pesos -4000 pesos.If the scene in Korea is too expensive but you like koreans who are some of the most beautiful women try koreans outside korea

[Stud_Lee]

Hey, guys. Thanks for the responses. I was in Seoul for a month this past summer and I know that Korea is no heaven for sex-related activity. I'd be going to visit some friends as it would be a lot cheaper for me to go there than somewhere else considering I'd have a free place to stay.

Still, I did feel that a lot of tension during my stay there, though thankfully I didn't go through any serious incidents. But I get the feeling that things are a lot worse now than they were in August and it seems that they're about to get worse than better. I'm sure this sentiment this affects the sex-trade in Seoul too, though there's never any public outcry in Korea when something bad happens to a female sex worker.

But you guys are making me thing twice. Maybe it's better to go to China, Taiwan or Japan instead. I'd go Thailand, but I hear it's not too safe of a place these days because of heightened terrorist activity...hopefully I'm wrong.

[Daniel_You]

hutsori,

I agree with you... although I live here in Seoul.

Daniel

Originally posted by hutsori
stud_lee,
Re: A korea sojourn.
Things are more tense than usual. But why korea? Even in the best of times it's a rip off, and many previous posts have reported that foreigners are unwelcome. If you're an ethnic korean it's a different story (not the rip off part, though), but if you're not you ought to spend your money and time in more deserving countries such as the Philippines and Thailand. Many of the punters here jump a SE Asia-bound flight whenever there's a 3- or 4-day weekend. korea, at any time, is a good place to skip if you have a choice. Pretty cold here now, too.