The South Korean Love Industry

[snooper2]

VICE

Published on Feb 5, 2015

With one of the lowest birth rates in the world, South Korea is in danger of disappearing by the end of the millennium. If the situation stays as it is, South Koreans are predicted to become extinct by 2750. Because of the rapidly aging population, elderly prostitutes known as "Bacchus ladies" have cornered a number of public parks as their working areas. Meanwhile, South Korean kids are living with their families well into their 20s—as a result, an entire economy of sex motels has sprung up to give kids a place to fool around outside the watchful eyes of their parents.

We sent Matt Shea to investigate this generational crisis, which led him to Seoul's red-light district, a pre-wedding photo shoot on the set of a Korean soap opera, and an erotic sculpture park on South Korea's "honeymoon island."

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. They just need more McDonalds there.

[L0oniX]

2. Send them some Sports Illustrated mags.

[yuiyoshida]

3. wow.

Thanks for posting this. I want to repost it in the Asian Group.

[davidpdx]

4. I saw this when you posted it in the Asian Group

So I'm bumping this here. Having lived here for 11 years the only only part that surprised me much was the Bacchus adjumas. That is tied to children not taking care of their parents and the government's inability to do anything either. I think those children should be shamed for their failure to care for their parents in their old age. It is just a crock of shit in my opinion.

[LittleBlue]

5. They are not in danger of disappearing by the end of the millennium

South Korea is horrendously overpopulated. To give you an idea

Population-
California: 38.8m
South Korea: 51.3m

Area-
California: 423,970 km2
South Korea: 100,210 km2


Between overcrowding driving up prices and driving down living quality, and birth control, this is a natural consequence. Once the population declines sufficiently, or technology improves to give people a greater quality of living, the population will stabilize.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. Also, it is natural for an advanced society to experience a declining birth rate

It's pretty much that way throughout Western Europe and Japan. Women have more opportunities outside the home, and kids have a great chance to survive childhood, but the costs of raising a child to adulthood can become prohibitive.