SEOUL, South Korea — After Seoul authorities repeatedly prevented 2024 KXF The Fashion from finding a suitable venue, event organizers have canceled the popular Korean adult industry expo, which was scheduled for this week.
The expo, which would have featured Japanese AV performers, was blocked from taking place at a cruise bar at a Han River park, and also at a cafe alley in Gangnam District.
“Banning the festival, local governments have expressed concerns that the event, featuring Japanese porn stars, could distort people’s perceptions of sex,” The Korea Times’ Lee Hyo-jin reported.
2024 KXF The Fashion was organized by Play Joker, but the company was prevented from finding alternate venues as local governments and even utilities forced each suggested location to cancel or reject bookings for the expo.
The expo was to feature a fashion show, a fan meetup and dance performances by several Japanese adult performers.
Previous versions of the expo also suffered from government pressure over the adult nature of the event. A February edition planned to take place at an exhibition hall in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, had to be changed after local residents protested. A potential replacement site in Paju, also in Gyeonggi Province, was also nixed by that city’s government.
Eventually, the February event was held at a bar on a boat anchored on the riverside of Jamwon Hangang Park, in Seoul, where this week’s edition of 2024 KXF The Fashion was set to take place.
However, the Korea Times reported, the Seoul Metropolitan Government “prohibited the hosting of the festival last week, citing concerns that the event could ‘distort people’s perceptions of sex’ and potentially trigger sex crimes. This decision was based on the River Act and the capital’s regulations on riverside projects and events.”
Play Joker attempted to defy city hall, but the government warned the company that it would cut off electricity at the boat bar if they held the event.
On Monday, Play Joker’s Instagram account announced that the event would take place in the Apgujeong neighborhood in Gangnam District, not disclosing the specific venue. Those who bought advanced tickets would be notified by Friday night, rave-style.
The Gangnam District Office responded by warning the hundreds of cafes and bars in the buzzy neighborhood made famous by Psy’s global hit that “hosting the adult festival would be illegal according to the Food Sanitation Act,” the Korea Times reported.
Reform Party Politician Stands Up for Adult Entertainment
On Wednesday, Chun Ha-ram, a Reform Party lawmaker-elect, wrote on Facebook in support of 2024 KXF The Fashion, stating that he believed that “enjoying adult culture in adults-only spaces should be allowed.”
“Somewhere along the line,” he wrote, “our society began applying strange standards where basic instincts of women are widely recognized as rightful, while men’s instincts are stigmatized as inherently criminal and repulsive.”
Chun added that the act of censorship could also be viewed as gender discrimination against men, mentioning past adult shows and musicals aimed at women that took place in Seoul without official outrage.
Chun urged the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Gangnam District Office to reconsider the ban, the Korea Times reported.