Country Brief

South Korea

2004 Anti-Prostitution Law criminalises both buying and selling. Massage-parlour and "kiss room" scenes operate in legal gray zone with periodic crackdowns.

Legal model

All commercial sex illegal

Risk level

High

Currency

South Korean Won (KRW)

Languages

Korean; limited English outside hotels

Emergency

112 police, 119 medical

AOC / SW min

20 / 19

1-Hour Session Pricing (Indicative)

Budget

KRW 100,000 (USD 75)

Typical

KRW 250,000–600,000 (USD 190–460)

Premium

KRW 1,200,000+ (USD 920+)

Key Areas

Seoul — Gangnam room-salon scene; Itaewon legacy expat bars; Hongdae nightlife
Busan — Haeundae beach; Seomyeon nightlife
Daegu, Incheon — secondary markets

Top Safety Notes

Mandatory HIV testing for some work-permit categories
Strict drug laws — even cannabis = years
PrEP private only; available at select hospitals

Essential Phrases

Hello	Annyeonghaseyo
Thank you	Gamsahamnida

Last verified April 2026. Print to PDF for offline reference. Full country guide: /regions/south-korea.