The Effect of Deterrence Based Efforts on the Intention for Buying Sexual Services among Prostitution Consumers in South Korea

• In Event: International Issues in Sexual Offending: Prevention, Treatment, and Public Safety

Abstract

Despite numerous efforts of criminal justice system for banning prostitution, buying sex among men has alleged to be increasing in South Korea. It is important to investigate empirically the effect of criminal justice and community based efforts on prostitution. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the criminal justice based punishment and the community based shaming deter the intention to purchase sexual services. That is, this study tested how formal and informal deterrence efforts affect the intention for paying for sex among prostitution consumers. Especially, this study focuses on the special law on sex trade and trafficking, ‘Prostitution Prevention Act’ that enacted in September 23, 2004. A data used in this study conducted at the Department of Justice in Korea and the Korea Institute of Criminology. The data was self-report survey that was collected from 509 male who have been booked sex offenders by violating the law. The results indicated that formal and informal deterrence efforts could help reduce the intention for buying sexual services. It also appears that the cultural tolerance for prostitution plays an important role for their intentions to go to prostitutes. The results were discussed and implications for further research and policies were suggested.

Authors

• Hyunin Baek, Georgia State University

• Sungil Han, Kyonggi University

• Jina Lee, Michigan State University