South Korean police have decided to strengthen a crackdown on the sex trade at bars and massage shops in 24 areas across the country. The National Police Agency plans to begin a nationwide crackdown, organizing special units at each police station to prevent expansion of prostitution, the Korea Times reported Thursday. Following enactment of anti-prostitution legislation in September 2004, brothel owners and prostitution began to ply their trade at massage parlors, saunas and bars. Police estimate there are 118 places offering sex in Yoksam-dong in southern Seoul, 207 in Somyon in Pusan and 446 in Kuri in Kyonggi Province. The NPA said the number of brothels in red light districts across the nation has decreased by 38 percent from 1,679, the number before the anti-prostitution law took effect, to 1,043. The number of women engaged in the sex trade has declined by 56 percent from 5,567 to 2,463, the newspaper reported. © Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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