Seungmin's First Ride Against Traffick

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This fundraiser supports Ride Against Traffick 2017

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$472 raised
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About This Fundraiser

저는 국선변호인사무실에서 일을 해요. 일을 하면서, 제가 흔하게 접할 수 있던 사건들은 성에 관련된 것이었어요. 형사사건은 보통 가해자와 피해자가 있는데, 성매매 사건만큼은 가해자와 피해자를 찾을 수 없어서 그 이유가 궁금했었어요. 사건기록을 보면서 제가 내렸었던 결론은 ‘성매매 사건의 관계자 모두가 서로의 필요를 위해서 서로를 이용했기 때문에, 이들 전부가 공범이다.’였어요, 하지만 이 결론은 제가 Riding Against Trafficking(이하 "RAT")에 참여하면서 바뀌게 되었어요.

RAT는 인신매매를 근절하기 위한 하나의 프로젝트에요. 매년 추석연휴 중 3박 4일 동안 참여자들이 부산에서 서울까지 종주를 하면서 인신매매의 근본적인 해결을 위해 기도하고, 이 기회를 통해서 사람들에게 인신매매의 실상과 이 문제를 함께 고칠 수 있는 방법을 알려줘요. 지난 날, 저는 대한민국에서 일어난 많은 사건과 사고를 보면서 이 사회가 사람을 더욱 가치 있게 여겨주기를 바래왔어요. 그렇기에 RAT는 “행동하는 양심을” 실천할 수 있는 좋은 기회였고, 저는 라이더로서 처음 참여하게 되었어요.

제가 RAT를 준비하면서 가장 마음이 아팠던 부분은 성매매 여성들의 삶이었어요. 저를 포함한 많은 사람들이 그들을 경멸의 시선으로 바라보고 있었다고 생각해요. 사회적으로 소외된 그들은 침묵할 수밖에 없었어요. 그들이 매춘부의 삶을 끊고자 해도 포주가 그들을 이용하기 위해 제공했던 위선적인 따뜻함과 협박 때문에, 그들은 또다시 자신의 감정을 속이고 성매매를 하게 되요. 그들은 매춘부이기 이전에 누군가의 소중한 딸이고 기쁨이었다는 것을 기억해야 되요.

17년 5월 2일에 보도된 여성가족부의 2016년 성매매 실태조사에 의하면, 성인남성 1,050명 중 50.7%가 성구매 경험이 있고 1인당 평균 성구매 횟수는 8.64회로 나와요. 정말 높은 수치에요. 저는 대한민국이 사람을 먼저 생각하는 사회가 되기를 원해요. 그래서 저의 RAT의 참여가 사람들의 인식을 변화시키는 작은 계기가 될 것이라고 생각해요.

앞으로 2주가 남았어요. 저는 남은 시간동안 라이더로서 잘 준비할께요. 당신은 저의 파트너로서 RAT에 후원해주세요. 모든 후원금은 Hope Be Restored(anti-trafficking organization)와 Oak Tree Project(scholarship-mentorship program for orphan students)로 전달될 것이에요. 마지막으로 당신의 참여가 미래에 만나게 될 우리 아이들에게 더 나은 세상을 선물해주는 하나의 방법이 될 것이라고 믿어요.

긴 글 읽어주셔서 고맙습니다.^^

I work in a Public Defender Law Firm. While I am on duty, the cases that I often see and receive are typically sexually related. Usually, there are perpetrators and victims in a criminal case, but for cases related to sex trafficking, it was difficult to clearly point out who the criminals and victims were, so that made me curious. As I have seen records of certain cases, I concluded that there are accomplices who exploit one another for mutual and filthy interests. However, that conclusion changed after participating in Riding Against Trafficking (RAT).

RAT is one of events to help eradicate sex trafficking. Every year among Chuseok holiday, for 4 days and 3 nights, attendees pray for fundamental solutions to put a stop to sex trafficking. Through this opportunity, we can help inform people about how we can prevent and solve this issue. As I have seen lots of incidents in Korea for the past few days, I wish that our society will put more consideration into the importance of humankind; and how valuable humans are, therefore RAT was a good chance to practice "acting conscience,” so I first joined RAT as a rider.

As I have been preparing for RAT, the most heart-breaking part for me is the life of a prostitute. I think most have seen them with contempt, even including me. Those who are marginalized, cannot keep silent. They want to come off as a sex worker, but they are again obligated to prostitute themselves, as a way of deceiving their own emotions due to fake warmth and threats from pimps, who exploit them. We should remember that they are someone's daughter before becoming a prostitute.

According to a 2016 sex trafficking survey from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which was released on May 2, 2017; among adult males, 1,050 people 50.7% have experienced buying sex and the average purchase amount per person is 8.64th. It is a high numerical value. I want Korea to be a society which puts people first, so I think my participation in RAT will be a small motivation to change people’s perception.

RAT is two weeks away, so I’ll do my best as a rider during the period of rest. Please donate to RAT as a partner of mine. All proceeds will go to Hope Be Restored (An anti-trafficking organization) and Oak Tree Project (A scholarship-mentorship program for orphan students). Finally, I believe that your participation in RAT will be one of the ways which will gift our children to a better future.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Recent Supporters

About Ride Against Traffick 2017

The Ride Against Traffick is a four day, 550km bike ride from Busan to Seoul intended to raise awareness of the problem of human trafficking in South Korea and to fight it.

Your donations will go to two great organizations who are actively working to combat this modern-day evil: Hope Be Restored, which is one of the leading anti-trafficking ministries in Korea, and Oak Tree Project, which is a scholarship and mentoring program for orphans in Korea. The ride costs are paid completely by the participants and sponsors, so 100% of the money we receive from your donation will go straight to these organizations.

Find out more at our website www.ratk.org.

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