알려지지 않은 진실: “한국은 인신매매·매춘 천국” ― 정부 뭐하나?

미국 국무부가 27일 공개한 연례 인신매매실태 보고서에 낯뜨거운 한국의 인신매매 실태가 또 한 번 공개됐다. 미 국무부는 인신매매 실태와 관련해 세계 각국 정부의 피해자 보호, 가해자 처벌, 예방활동 실적 등을 토대로 조사대상 국가들을 1등급, 2등급, 2등급 요주의, 3등급으로 각각 분류하고 있으며, 한국은 이번 보고서에도 1등급으로 분류돼 2002년 이후 10년 연속 1등급 지위를 유지했다.

그러나 보고서에서 밝힌 한국의 인신매매 실태는 지난해와 같이 바닥 수준이었다.

보고서는 첫 단락부터 한국은 강제 매춘과 강요된 노동에 처해지는 남성과 여성의 공급국이자, 경유국이며 최종 도착국이라고 규정했다.

또 러시아, 우즈베키스탄, 카자흐스탄, 모로코, 콜롬비아, 몽골, 중국, 필리핀, 태국, 캄보디아 등지의 남성과 여성들이 취업이나 결혼을 위해 모집되지만 한국 내에서 강제적인 매춘 혹은 강제 노역에 처해지기 십상이라는 점도 지적했다.

보고서는 ‘빚’을 고리로 성매매 피해 여성들이 속박되고 있으며, 고용주들과 브로커들은 피해자들의 빚을 더 악화시키는 방법들을 찾아내고 있다고 전했다. 아울러 피해 여성들의 상당수는 여권을 빼앗긴 채 이동이 제한된 가운데 임금도 받지 못하고 있다고 소개했다.

이와 함께 한국 여성은 국내 뿐만 아니라 미국, 캐나다, 일본, 호주 등지에서 강제 매춘에 시달리기도 하며, 한국의 10대들이 점점 매춘에 착취당하고 있고, 한국에서의 아동 성 착취의 95% 이상은 인터넷을 통해 중개된다고 보고서는 덧붙였다.

이런 내용은 지난해 공개된 보고서 내용과 거의 같은 내용이다.

이와 관련 올해 보고서는 한국 정부가 인신매매 근절을 위한 최소한의 기준을 완전히 따르고 있으며, 인신매매를 막기 위한 상당한 노력을 하고 있다고 한국 정부의 움직임을 소개하기도 했다.

보고서는 이어 한국 정부에 대해 포괄적인 반(反)인신매매법을 제정하고, 인신매매 사범들에 대한 조사와 기소를 강화하는 한편 취약 계층에 대한 인신매매 예방 활동 등에 나설 것을 권고했다.

또 이주노동자들 가운데 강제노동의 피해자가 있는지 확인을 강화하고, 임금체불을 고발하는 이주노동자들에게는 조사와 기소가 진행되는 동안 계속 한국에서 일할 수 있도록 허가하고, 아동 섹스관광에 나서는 한국인들에 대해서는 법을 집행할 것을 촉구했다.

The U.S. State Department revealed the hidden truth of Korean human trafficking issues, Monday.

Korea has been marked as a “tier one nation” for the 10th consecutive year this year, meaning that it has met “the minimum standards” laid down in the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

The department classifies nations into four tiers based on protection of victims, punishment of offenders and prevention measures in annual report on human trafficking.

Although it remains as “tier one,” Korea is hardly the model when it comes to actual human trafficking, according to the report by the department. The report raised coerced prostitution and labor problems as issues from the very first paragraph, describing Korea as the “source, transit, and destination country” of human trafficking.

The department has pointed out that men and women from Russia, Uzbekistan,Kazakhstan, Morocco, Columbia, Mongolia, China, the Philippines, Taiwan,Cambodia and other nations around the world come to Korea for marriages and jobs only to end up in forced prostitution or labor.

Also it pointed to financial debt as the prime reason for trafficking of women, by saying that the women’s “owners” and “brokers” have found ways to constantly make the debt larger to keep the women indefinitely. “Many of these women get their passport taken away and are thereby kept from escaping overseas,” it said.

The department also said that there are also significant human trafficking of Korean women abroad being forced into prostitution in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Australia. It commented that more and more Korean teenagers are dragged into prostitution with nearly 95% of child prostitution broadcast live through the Internet.

This year’s report is nearly identical as the one from last year. While noting the Korean government has maintained its efforts to eradicate human trafficking, this year’s report called for reformation in the anti-trafficking legislations and implement more thorough investigation methods, harsher punishments, and preventive measures to the underprivileged.

Amidst the celebration for Korea’s 10th year as a “tier one” nation, it is more important now than ever to remember that “tier one” classification is for nations that meet the minimum standards. In order to truly become a leader in today’s world, Korea should never be satisfied with meeting the minimum requirements, the report said. 

  U.S. Wants Seoul to Do More Against Human Trafficking

The U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 published on Monday depicts South Korea as a “source, transit, and destination country for men and women subjected to forced prostitution and forced labor.” But the report mostly repeats what the U.S.government has been saying in previous editions, and experts say some of the allegations are unfounded. 

South Korea is in Tier 1, which groups countries that fully comply with the international minimum standards. Japan is in Tier 2 for countries whose governments do not fully comply with international minimum standards but are making efforts to do so, on the grounds that the number of foreign women in prostitution is increasing through organized sham marriages. 

The annual report compiled since 2001 groups countries into four grades — Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch, and Tier 3 — based on interviews and data provided by each country, U.S. embassies, nonprofit civic groups, and international organizations.

This year, 32 of the 184 countries surveyed were listed in Tier 1. South Korea has been in Tier 1 since 2002. 

◆ ‘Forced’ Prostitution 

Many foreigners who come to South Korea for jobs or marriage, are actually forced into prostitution or labor, the report says. Mostly from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,Morocco, Colombia, Mongolia, China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia, they arrive with debts because the brokers who arrange their travels take up to US$20,000 from their employers or husbands. 

It says South Korean women are also forced into prostitution in the U.S., Canada,Japan, and Australia, as well as at home. 

The report claims an increasing number of teenagers in South Korea suffer sexual exploitation, more than 95 percent of which is arranged online. South Korean men are still clients of child prostitutes in Southeast Asia or on Pacific islands, it adds. 

But an official with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said, “The number of brothels has dropped as a result of consistent crackdowns in red-light districts under a special law in 2004. We protect sex trafficking victims through nationwide counseling centers and other support facilities.” 

He said the U.S. report is published to warn of human trafficking and evaluates advanced countries like the U.K. and the U.S. itself “in equally harsh tones.” “Although there’s still room for improvement, Korea has no serious problem since it is in Tier 1,” he added. 

◆ Lenient Punishment

The report recognizes the South Korean government’s anti-trafficking efforts but accuses it of failing to enforce laws strictly or mete out stern punishment. 

For example, Seoul investigated 40 cases last year under laws against the sex trade, but only six cases produced convictions, and two of those resulted only in fines. No South Koreans were punished for child sex tourism overseas last year, the report adds. 

The report urges the South Korean government to enact a comprehensive anti-trafficking law, step up investigation and prosecution of human traffickers and protect the vulnerable. 

North Korea is among 22 countries such as Burma, Iran, Libya, and Cuba in Tier 3, which groups countries that fail to meet minimum anti-trafficking standards and make significant efforts to do so.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/include/print.asp?newsIdx=89759