Sunday, Feb 1, 2004    Text size: 

Judge Jung In-Suk said in a ruling that access to adult entertainment is not protected by Korea's constitutional rights.

The judge's ruling came in response to a group of citizens who claimed the government's ban on some porn websites violated their free speech rights.

"Obscene adult products are outside the boundary of constitutional rights, and the acts of producing and distributing them are subject to legal punishment and restriction," Judge Jung In-Suk stated.

Korea has had a ban on most types of pornography since 1999, however Korean porn distributors operating websites both inside and outside the country have seen significant industry growth over the past two years, the Korea Herald reports.

Many countries including India and Singapore have a longstanding ban on most types of pornographic material for adults. In Singapore, the government blocks many websites that it feels are "obscene." Home satellite television antennae are also outlawed, and most television content is closely monitored by the government.

As of a year ago, an estimated 202 Korean-language porn sites were in service, compared to less than half a dozen in the year prior, the Herald reported.

The dramatic rise in the number of Korean-language porn sites is being attributed to stricter Internet regulations being enforced by the Korean government.

About 90 percent of Korean porn sites are reportedly being run out of Los Angeles, where many Korean immigrants live.