The petition against pornography regulations, posted by an anonymous netizen, garnered 1 million signatures in a week, and exceeded 1.2 million in ten days.
With 30 days to collect petition signatures, wouldn’t it break 2 million at this rate?
As this happened, the media unanimously reported this fact as major news. I was dumbfounded watching the signature count rise in real-time.
“What’s going on? Why is pornography coming up in regulatory reform?”
Taekgyu spoke as if it were obvious, “Are you asking because you don’t know? Pornography is precisely the industry where regulations should be lifted first. What age are we living in that pornography is still illegal? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Well, yeah, but still.”
Regarding prostitution, some developed countries allow it, while others do not. However, in the case of pornography, everyone allows it. Among developed nations, South Korea is virtually the only one where pornography is illegal.
South Korea generally follows global standards, but when it comes to pornography, it boasts regulations as strong as, if not stronger than, Islamic countries.
Ellie asked, seemingly not understanding, “I’ve been wondering for a while now, why is pornography illegal only in Korea? There’s nothing wrong with adults enjoying adult content. If enjoying it is okay, then making it is also okay.”
“Um…”
To think I’d be discussing pornography with my girlfriend in front of my friend.
Strictly speaking, adult content itself isn’t illegal. Erotic movies are legal after all. However, pornography that depicts actual sexual acts is illegal.
“Well, first of all, being in the Confucian cultural sphere is probably the biggest reason. And there might also be the fact that proper discussions weren’t held during the rapid industrialization process.”
When it comes to pornography, both progressives and conservatives are against it. Adding to this, the older generation’s conservative tendencies, women’s rights, and youth education issues have complicated matters further.
Taekgyu said, “What’s strange is that it’s prohibited by law, but everyone is watching it.”
Pornography has never been legal in Korea. But there has also never been a time when pornography was absent.
In the pre-internet era, magazines, videotapes, and CDs were secretly traded in places like Yongsan or the back alleys of Cheonggyecheon. After the internet opened up, foreign pornography began to pour in in earnest through networks.
Even now, with just a click or two and a search, you can easily find pornography.
“Then shouldn’t it be allowed now?”
Usually, when regulations are removed, existing businesses that will be harmed strongly oppose it. But in the case of pornography, there are no existing businesses that would oppose it. (The erotic film industry would be harmed, but it’s already been annihilated by illegal pornography).
At this point, it’s about time to start social discussions for legalization, but…
“In Korea, talk about sex-related topics is very sensitive.”
No matter how widely something is spread in the shadows, it’s not easy to bring it into the light. It’s about the face-saving of adults, perhaps?
“Isn’t Korea quite open-minded among Asian countries?” Ellie asked.
“It might seem that way on the surface, but it’s surprisingly conservative.”
Taekgyu nodded. “Right. It’s a country where it’s even hard for teenagers to buy condoms.”
Ellie was startled by those words. “Really? They teach about contraception and such in schools, right?”
“This is a bit funny, the details…”
As condoms are medical supplies, teenagers can purchase them freely at pharmacies and convenience stores. However, condoms with studs or special features are designated as adult products and are prohibited from being sold to teenagers. Selling them can result in imprisonment for up to a year or a fine of up to 5 million won.
“Why?”
“They say it’s to prevent teenagers from experiencing pleasure.”
At my words, Ellie burst into laughter. “Is that kind of joke common in Korea?”
Taekgyu and I shook our heads simultaneously. “It’s not a joke, it’s real.”
Ellie said in bewilderment, “No, if you’re not going to enjoy pleasure, then why do it at all?”
“Well… I guess so.”
I don’t understand what this is all about either.
To be precise, it’s a matter announced by the Youth Protection Commission, and later the Youth Protection Commission became affiliated with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. And the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has maintained this regulation for over 20 years.
Sex issues are so difficult to discuss in Korea that they can’t even change one of these absurd regulations. Let alone if it’s pornography.
The ambiguous situation where it’s illegal by law, but everyone watches it, has continued until now, and it was an issue that would be brought to public discussion someday.
I just didn’t expect it to suddenly surface in this way.
Regardless of whether it’s legal or illegal, the important fact is that pornography is a huge industry.
The pornography industry is constantly growing. It didn’t even discriminate between times of recession or boom.
Except for Korea, almost all countries are growing their pornography industries, and in countries like the US, UK, Japan, and France, it has already established itself as a massive industry.
The pornography market will only grow, it will never shrink. In fact, it has shown explosive growth by combining with new technologies.
Pornography consumption methods have continued to change with technological advancements. In the early days, it was mainly shown in adult movie theaters, but later, with the spread of color TVs and VCRs (pornography accelerated their spread), it shifted to being watched at home.
After the development of the internet, the medium changed from TV to computers (again, pornography accelerated its spread), and now mobile is the trend. Viewing is also trending from downloading to streaming.
Just like the saying that new technologies are first used in pornography, the winds of the Fourth Industrial Revolution swept through the pornography industry as well.
And Faceit actively adopted these new technologies and became the undisputed strongest player in the pornography industry. Recommendation algorithms utilizing big data, 4K video production, VR pornography, and the combination of AI and sex dolls, etc.
The upcoming 5G era is also a good opportunity for the pornography industry to leap forward. Faceit was also actively researching virtual sex utilizing 5G networks.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution reduces manufacturing jobs. But the content sector was different. Jobs needed for server and website management and production are increasing, and each company is continuing to increase hiring.
“It reminds me of when I invested in Faceit. That was my first startup investment.”
Who would have known that the first company I invested in would become so successful?
At my words, Ellie suddenly asked as if something came to mind, “Ah, that’s right! So, who was the actress you liked back then?”
“Actress?”
“You know, porn actress.”
“Ah…”
Ellie smiled as I became flustered. “It’s about time you told me honestly, isn’t it? Come on, tell me.”
“…….”
I want to protect her privacy now that she’s retired.
***
When petition signatures for regulatory reform exceed 200,000, the head of the relevant ministry must respond.
As media attention focused, Minister Shin Jeon-mi of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family stepped forward to state her position.
“The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has been striving to prevent the commodification of women and eradicate obscene materials. However, even now, countless women are suffering from illegal filming and revenge porn, and some are even making extreme choices. Women are not objects of pleasure and consumption. Pornography must be prohibited to protect women’s rights and establish a healthy sexual culture.”
Netizens generally reacted with bewilderment.
-ㅋㅋㅋThe Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s class of putting illegal hidden camera footage and pornography on the same level.
– I agree that illegal filming and revenge porn are clear crimes and must be eradicated. But why should normally and legally produced pornography be treated the same way?
– They’re subtly tying these two together.
– Why don’t they just make a law prohibiting sex altogether?
– Sigh! What do you expect in this Confucian country?
– If pornography must be prohibited to protect women’s rights and establish a healthy sexual culture, are countries that allow pornography like the US, UK, France, and Germany violating women’s rights and spreading unhealthy sexual cultures?
– The irony is that these countries have higher gender equality indices than Korea lol.
– Shouldn’t the Minister of Gender Equality and Family attend the UN Human Rights Committee and accuse countries that allow pornography?
– Characteristic of the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family = strong woman only within Korea.
Assemblywoman Lee Jung-hye of the Liberty National Party went even further.
“In the Republic of Korea, pornography is clearly illegal. Nevertheless, proper crackdowns have not been carried out so far. I will create and propose a law to further strengthen the crackdown and punishment of pornography beyond the current levels.”
Assemblywoman Lee Jung-hye and other female assembly members in the party took the lead, and a total of ten assembly members joined in proposing the bill. Three members from the New Politics Party also put their names on it.
Cross-party cooperation was achieved for the prohibition of pornography!
Netizens were in shock.
– No, you bastards!
– Just cut off my head instead!
– No, we petitioned to ease regulations, but what’s with creating regulations instead?
– Why are you stopping adults from watching adult content?
– Haha! Very righteous scholars have appeared. Ah! ‘Righteous scholars’ is absolutely not an insult, but refers to the ten assembly members who possess the spirit of unwavering scholars.
– That’s right. Let’s call them the ‘Ten Righteous Scholars’ from now on!
– Hey, Ten Righteous Scholars!
However, public opinion supporting the Ten Righteous Scholars was also not insignificant.
– Pornography regulations must never be lifted!
– Think about it. What will our children see and learn?
– If pornography is allowed in a country like Korea with severe gender inequality, it will ultimately lead to the exploitation of women.
– Stop gender discrimination!
– A woman’s body is not a sexual object!
– There’s an old saying, ‘Boys and girls aged seven should not sit together.’ And yet, pornography?
– Aren’t you ashamed to face our ancestors?
– Families are collapsing and society is collapsing because of porn ㅠㅠ
– If pornography is legalized, Korea will become a pornography paradise!
– Huh? Then that’s a win-win.
As the controversy surrounding the legalization of pornography grew, foreign media also showed interest. Foreigners expressed surprise at the fact that pornography was illegal in Korea.
As Faceit gained attention due to this incident, Toby Strong posted a message on Facenote.
[Korean people’s love for pornography is amazing. We have already secured 500,000 paid Korean subscribers.]
It had long been expected that there would be many Korean subscribers. However, this was the first time the CEO had directly mentioned it.
People were shocked by his statement.
The number of Korean subscribers to NetPlay, the world’s largest video streaming site, is around 350,000. But the number of subscribers to the pornography site Faceit is even higher!
– 500,000 subscribers? What’s wrong with Korean men?
– I used the internet in my boyfriend’s room and there was a Faceit address. So I told him we should break up that day.
– I’m worried if my boyfriend has also subscribed ㅠㅠ
– Don’t worry too much. There are many men who don’t watch porn.
– I asked him, and my husband says he’s never watched porn once in his life. As a man himself, he really doesn’t understand men who watch that kind of thing.
-ㅋㅋㅋNever watched porn once in his life? Is that really true?
– The authorities must thoroughly block access to overseas pornography sites.
– Even if they do, you can just bypass it with a VPN.
– What’s a VPN?
– I asked my sister, who entered Sein Women’s University at the top of her computer science department, and she said it’s an initialism for Video, Porno, Nomo.
– Wow! I never knew that’s what men meant when they sometimes mentioned internet VPN, or whatever.
– That’s really disgusting. How can they use such words casually on the internet? Shouldn’t we report it for sexual harassment?
– Ah, s***, I’m speechless.
– I don’t even know where to begin pointing out the problems. Should I start with the sister in computer science, or point out that Sein Women’s University doesn’t have an engineering department?
– Please note that DNS is an initialism for Dirty, Nopo, Sex.
– HTTP is Hen Tai The Porn ㅋㅋㅋ
– Then SNS must be Swapping, Nocon, Sex?
Tens of thousands of comments were posted on Toby Strong’s Facenote.
The next day, he posted another message.
[Of those 500,000 subscribers, 130,000 are women.]
The internet was turned upside down again.
– Wh, what did you say?
– I didn’t ask how many female subscribers there were!
– 130,000? What’s wrong with Korean women?
-ㅋㅋㅋI’m going crazy. Why did women subscribe?
– Faceit’s female-oriented content is a hit, after all.
– Everyone! You know that’s all a lie, right?
– That’s right. That must include male teenagers who paid with their mom’s credit card.
– Then if a man used a woman’s card, it would all show up as female subscribers. I thought it was strange.
– I’ve heard that there are more than a few cases where husbands paid with their wives’ cards.
– Korean men are capable of anything.
– Seriously, what kind of crazy bastard uses his wife’s credit card on a porn site?
– lol, amazing mental gymnastics.
