More adult movies, sex festivals: How an entrepreneur is trying to ‘normalise’ porn in South Korea

“I’d like South Korea to be more open about sex,” said entrepreneur Lee Hee-tae, as he ventured into the porn industry, advocating for open discussions on sex and sexuality in a deeply conservative South Korean society.

The entrepreneur recalled that when he informed his parents about his decision to enter the adult entertainment business, he urged them to set aside concerns about social disapproval and focus on the financial benefits.

With domestic demand plus a growing global fascination with South Korea, thanks to booming K-pop and K-drama exports, the adult entertainment industry also has economic potential, Lee said.

How is Lee trying to change the tide on adult content in South Korea? Let’s take a closer look

Fighting the sex ’taboo’

Lee said due to its rigid cultural norms, the country is falling behind its neighbour Japan which is slowly and steadily embracing the evolving adult film industry.

South Korea produces around 2,000 adult movies a year, compared with what Lee’s research indicates is 2,000 a day made by Tokyo’s $36.5-billion-dollar behemoth.

That, Lee said, is not only a lost opportunity. but a personal tragedy for many South Koreans who are unable to properly discuss sex, desire, and sexuality because of its “taboo” nature.

While not illegal, the production of pornography is closely regulated in South Korea, with authorities requiring that images of genitalia be heavily blurred.

Lee also runs an adult content company Play Joker which has produced around 500 adult films so far, the majority of them filmed in Japan using Japanese actors. He said they have recently moved from making movies to hosting live events.


Porn to help solve ‘molka’?

South Korea is also grappling with a “molka”, or spycam, epidemic of illicitly filmed videos that include everything from women in public restrooms to leaked sex videos from K-pop stars.

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Lee argued that the two phenomena are linked and said allowing a thriving local adult content industry would help prevent spycam crimes.

Lee said some people might “watch ‘molka’ because they don’t understand adult content”, and they cannot differentiate between professional pornography and illicit footage, he said.

However, some women’s groups in South Korea disagree.

The Suwon Women’s Hotline stated last month that the claim that promoting a “free sexual culture” would curb illegal adult content is completely false, describing it as merely an effort to perpetuate a culture of sexual violence.

Are women watching more porn?

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On South Korea’s adult cable channel “a surprising trend has emerged where the viewership from 11 am to 12:30 pm has significantly increased”, Lee said.

“It turns out women tune in after sending husbands to work and kids to school,” he added.

While the majority of Lee’s films cater to male viewers, he observed a broader industry trend towards creating content specifically for women, influenced by successful examples from Japanese producers.  

However, Lee said South Korea has a web of social taboos and regulations that are “keeping the industry from reaching its full potential”.

For example, putting a porn actor in a school uniform violates child protection laws. Or featuring a flight attendant uniform guarantees the production can “expect full-blown protest from flight attendants’ unions”.

“Thanks to K-pop, Korea’s national brand has grown… and there are many countries now looking for Korean adult content,” he said, but the existing industry is unable to meet demand.


The ‘first & biggest’ sex festival
Lee’s company last month also planned to organise the country’s “first and biggest” sex festival, featuring meet and greet, and signing events of Japanese adult film stars.  

The festival reportedly also planned to offer a sex toy exhibition and some adult games for the ticket holders, as per The Korea Herald.

However, after severe backlash and legal challenges from authorities and women groups, Lee eventually cancelled the event, causing what he said were significant financial losses.

Women’s groups branded the proposed festival in Suwon, south of Seoul, a “sex-exploitation event” and described it as “quasi-prostitution”.

Lee is taking both Suwon authorities and some women’s groups to court, seeking damages. The fallout has prompted some new lawmakers to question whether officials were right to cancel.

In a Facebook post incoming opposition lawmaker Chun Ha-ram, who won office in April parliamentary elections, wrote, “What is wrong with hosting an adult-only festival?"  

“Authorities should take their hands off this. Unless it’s blatantly illegal, state power has no right to interfere in the cultural sphere."

Such signs indicate the tide may be turning, at least a little, Lee said. He plans to organise a larger event in June and asserted that he won’t retreat this time.  

South Korea needs to be less prudish about adult content, he said.

“I would like to remind people that we are all created through sex."

With inputs from AFP