In 2010 a survey was conducted by human rights in Korea found that 60% of Korean actresses were pressured to have sex to further their careers. Interviews were also conducted with 111 actresses and 240 trainee actresses to help support this fact (Glioanna, 2011). 1 in 5 said they were forced or "requested" by their companies to provide sexual favours (Glioanna, 2011). Over half of the interviewees said they were forced to drink with influential figures and one third admitted to have experienced sexual harassment (Glioanna, 2011).
That is truly disgusting.... The entertainment companies are acting more like a sex slave trade than an actual company that produces artists.
The sexual exploitation these girls are experience was bought to the Fair Trade Commissions attention after actress Jang Ja-yeong committed suicide back in 2009 (Glioanna, 2011). In her suicide letter she revealed that she was forced to have sex on numerous occasions with influential figures such as directors, CEO's and her manager. Although police did not take action right away (McCurry, 2009).
The police only took action against her company 3 weeks after her death when rumors had leaked about her letter (McCurry, 2009). Police discovered that her manager Kim had regularly beaten her and forced her to have sex with these influential figures. She was also forced to serve drinks to them and act as an escort at golf matches. When the police raided Kim's office they found a shower and a "secret room" on the third floor (Gliaonna, 2011).
Unfortunately by the time police started to take action against Kim he had already fled to Japan. Luckily he was later arrested for assaulting a male actor and is now in jail (McCurry, 2009).
Although this doesn't do anything for Jang Ja-yeong's family or even Jang Ja-yeong. But hopefully with your help we can help spread the word about problems like this in the Korean entertainment industry and help save others like Jang before it is too late.
I would like to offer my condolences to Jang Ja-yeong, her family and all of the other young actresses trapped in this horrible nightmare. I would also like to thank Jang Ja-yeong for her contribuition to raising awareness about this issue but I am immensely sorry that she though suicide was the only way to escape.
Remember Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem
That is truly disgusting.... The entertainment companies are acting more like a sex slave trade than an actual company that produces artists.
The sexual exploitation these girls are experience was bought to the Fair Trade Commissions attention after actress Jang Ja-yeong committed suicide back in 2009 (Glioanna, 2011). In her suicide letter she revealed that she was forced to have sex on numerous occasions with influential figures such as directors, CEO's and her manager. Although police did not take action right away (McCurry, 2009).
The police only took action against her company 3 weeks after her death when rumors had leaked about her letter (McCurry, 2009). Police discovered that her manager Kim had regularly beaten her and forced her to have sex with these influential figures. She was also forced to serve drinks to them and act as an escort at golf matches. When the police raided Kim's office they found a shower and a "secret room" on the third floor (Gliaonna, 2011).
Unfortunately by the time police started to take action against Kim he had already fled to Japan. Luckily he was later arrested for assaulting a male actor and is now in jail (McCurry, 2009).
Although this doesn't do anything for Jang Ja-yeong's family or even Jang Ja-yeong. But hopefully with your help we can help spread the word about problems like this in the Korean entertainment industry and help save others like Jang before it is too late.
I would like to offer my condolences to Jang Ja-yeong, her family and all of the other young actresses trapped in this horrible nightmare. I would also like to thank Jang Ja-yeong for her contribuition to raising awareness about this issue but I am immensely sorry that she though suicide was the only way to escape.
Remember Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem
References
Glioanna, 2011, Cultural Exchange: In South Korea's entertainment industry, exploitation remains an issue, viewed 19/10/2014, http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/09/entertainment/la-ca-cultural-exchange-20110109
McCurry, 2009, Storm in South Korea over Jang Ja-yeon's suicide, viewed 19/10/2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/01/south-korea-entertaiment-jang-jayeon
McCurry, 2009, Storm in South Korea over Jang Ja-yeon's suicide, viewed 19/10/2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/01/south-korea-entertaiment-jang-jayeon