Female S.Korean victims held captive for sex trafficking in New Zealand

Several young South Korean women visiting New Zealand were found to be victims of sex trafficking.

YTN has recently been informed by a 20-year old South Korean female that she had been held captive, her passport taken away, and forced into sex work in Auckland, New Zealand. The owner of the brothel is known to be also a female South Korean national.

The victim said that many other young Korean women are in the same miserable plight. She added that the girls, most with no previous prostitution experience, are said to have been lured by acquaintances from Korea. Some are believed to have been persuaded to go to New Zealand by brokers in Korea with promises such as free plastic surgery.

An official from Seoul's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said the ministry will push for an investigation of Korean-involved sex trafficking in New Zealand from next year.