South Korea lifts ban on imported sex dolls
The South Korean government has ended its ban on the import of full-body sex dolls, following years of debate about the state’s role in regulating personal behavior.
While there were no laws specifically prohibiting the import of sex dolls, customs officials had seized hundreds or thousands of them, citing a clause in the law that banned the import of goods that could “harm the country’s beautiful traditions and public moral.” Importers challenged the seizures in court, with most judges ruling in their favor and ordering the dolls to be released, stating that they were used in private spaces and did not infringe on human dignity.
The Korea Customs Service announced on Monday that it had revised its guidelines for the import of life-size adult sex dolls, taking into account recent court rulings and the opinions of relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The customs service will continue to ban the import of child-like sex dolls or dolls depicting specific individuals.
The decision has been met with opposition from some women’s rights and conservative organizations, who argue that sex dolls contribute to the sexual objectification of women and undermine public morals.
However, it is seen as a step towards limiting state interference in personal matters in South Korea.