Executive summary

This study, which is part of IOM Seoul’s continuing effort to bring together and publicize accurate information on trafficking in the Republic of Korea (hereafter, South Korea), collects and presents data that were locally gathered by South Korean organizations. However, in preparing this study it became immediately evident that there is not a clear or consistent definition of trafficking in South Korea. This, in turn, deprived researchers of a lucid delineation on what to measure in order to estimate the scale of trafficking in South Korea. In addition, even though there is trafficking of both local and foreign women from South Korea into other countries, this is not always regarded as trafficking, so there afe few resources available which are useful to study trafficking out of South Korea.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions