Sex crime specialist attorney, I was forced into prostitution but cannot report because I am afraid of being punished myself.

Hello. I am a sex crime specialist attorney at Daeryun Law Firm (LLC).

To get straight to the point, if you were forced into prostitution, you will not be punished.

That is, if you were forced into prostitution through stratagem or coercion regardless of your will, you are legally recognized as a 'prostitution victim' and will not be punished for the prostitution act itself.

The「Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic, Etc.」clearly defines 'prostitution victims', and accordingly, in the following cases, you are recognized as a prostitution victim and exempted from punishment.

▷ A person who was forced into prostitution by stratagem, coercion, or other equivalent coercive methods

▷ A person who engaged in prostitution while addicted to narcotics or psychotropic substances under protection and supervision relationships such as business or employment relationships

▷ A person who was induced to engage in prostitution by deception or seduction, such as minors, persons with insufficient decision-making ability, or persons who cannot lead normal social life without protection from others

▷ Victims of human trafficking for the purpose of prostitution

Therefore, if you were forced, you are not subject to punishment but can receive legal protection as a victim.

However, since the specific legal response methods or procedures may differ depending on your situation, please consult with a sex crime specialist attorney as soon as possible to receive accurate advice.