Calculators & Self-ChecksProsecution Request Estimator
Prostitution (buying sex): statutory penalty and likely requested sentence
The statutory penalty for Prostitution (buying sex) and the likely handling of the case depending on your circumstances. The results are for reference only.
- Statutory penalty
- Up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to KRW 3 million, short-term detention, or a petty fine
- Legal basis
- Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts, Article 21(1)
- Category
- Sex crimes · Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts
Calculate with your own circumstances
What the handling steps mean
- Detention considered · Detention (구속): being held in custody during the investigation and trial under a court warrant when there is a risk of fleeing or destroying evidence
- Formal trial · Formal trial (구공판): the prosecutor asks the court for a trial, and you stand before a judge in a courtroom
- Summary fine · Summary indictment (약식기소): a procedure in which a fine is set on the documents, without a trial in a courtroom
- Suspension of indictment possible · Suspension of indictment (기소유예): the wrongdoing is recognized, but the prosecutor takes various circumstances into account and closes the case without sending it to trial
- Referral to the Family Court possible · Domestic or juvenile protection case: instead of criminal punishment, the Family Court imposes protective dispositions such as counseling, a no-contact order or community service
Handling standards at a glance
Listed from heaviest to lightest. The actual decision depends on the results of the investigation and your circumstances.
Formal trial (prison sentence requested)
For buying sex abroad, a formal trial is considered if there are 3 or more prostitution records, including those in Korea.
Summary fine
- Likely fine
- KRW 2 million or more
For buying sex from a person with a disability, a suspension of indictment conditional on education is, as a rule, not given.
Summary fine
For buying sex abroad, a summary fine is the rule even for a first offense.
Summary fine
- Likely fine
- KRW 1.5 million or more
Suspension of indictment possible
For a first offense, a suspension of indictment conditional on completing the repeat-prevention program for sex buyers (the 'John School'), or referral as a prostitution protection case, is usual.
Notes
- If you agree to the program but do not complete it, the investigation restarts and the case is handled with a fine or similar.
Frequently asked questions
- Prostitution (buying sex): what is the statutory penalty?
- Legal basis: Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts, Article 21(1). Statutory penalty: Up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to KRW 3 million, short-term detention, or a petty fine.
- Prostitution (buying sex): how is the case usually handled?
- Depending on the circumstances, it may be handled as follows: Formal trial (prison sentence requested), Summary fine, Suspension of indictment possible. Enter your circumstances in the calculator above to see which one applies.
Other crimes in the same category
This is only an estimate based on how investigative agencies usually handle cases. The actual decision and request depend on the facts of the case, such as a settlement, prior convictions and how the crime happened, and on the judgment of the prosecutor in charge; the final sentence is decided by the court. If you are about to be questioned, do not rely on this result alone and talk to a lawyer first.
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