South Korea has allowed the import of sex dolls into the country
South Korea has officially allowed the import of sex dolls in natural quantities into the country, the import of which was under an unspoken ban for a long time.
The decision came after much debate about government intrusion into people’s private lives.
For several years, the country’s customs services did not allow full-size sex dolls to pass, citing a law that prohibits the import of goods “that may harm public morals and excellent traditions.”
The importers were dissatisfied, filed lawsuits, as a result of which the customs officers’ actions were often declared illegal, the last sex toy was intended for personal use.
In 2019, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that sex dolls fall under the same category as pornography, which is highly regulated but legal.
However, almost a quarter of a million people have signed a petition to ban the import of these dolls into South Korea. The unnamed petitioner said the dolls could lead to an increase in sex crimes.
On Monday, December 26, South Korea’s customs service announced the development of an import permit for full-size adult dolls. The documents, which emerged after consultations with lawyers and the Ministry of Family Affairs and Gender Equality, said the export of full-size dolls that look like specific people, such as celebrities or children, is still prohibited.
It is unclear whether the ban extends to the sale of domestically produced sex dolls that look like minors. Such restrictions already exist in Australia, Great Britain and the USA.