Rights groups slam South Korean adult festival featuring Japanese porn stars

They called on authorities to stop the commodifying of women and to ‘immediately’ scrap the event next month, where 100,000 visitors are expected

A 2017 government report showed more than half of South Korean men had paid for sex at least once in their lives, despite the nation’s anti-prostitution law

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A promotional vehicle of a ‘Host Club’ runs though Kabukicho in Tokyo. Japan has a booming multibillion-dollar adult industry, which in recent years had been rocked by allegations that women were forced to perform sex acts on films against their will. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 5:40pm, 15 Mar 2024

An “adult festival” starring Japanese pornography actresses in South Korea is facing opposition from women’s rights groups, who have accused the event of promoting sexual exploitation.

Organisers expect thousands of age-verified fans to flock to the second edition of “2024 K-XF The Fashion” in Suwon, about 30km (18.6 miles) south of Seoul, next month.

The exhibition also features a lingerie show that activists say objectifies women’s bodies.

“We strongly condemn 2024 K-XF The Fashion as it sexually commercialises female body and sexual activities,” said members from more than a dozen social and civic organisations during a protest against hosting the expo.

“[The festival] is simply an event where it makes it natural for men to satisfy their sexual desire through prostitution and sexually exploiting females,” one of the participants said.

They called on authorities to “immediately” scrap the event, where patrons can receive autographs from the adult stars, to stop the commodifying of women.