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Bacchus Ladies (Hangul: 박카스 할머니; RR: bagkaseu halmeoni) are elderly Korean prostitutes who solicit in parks and plazas in Seoul for sex in nearby motels. They traditionally made a living by selling bottles of the popular Bacchus energy drink in the parks where elderly men gather for chess games and chats with their friends. The women are in their 50s, 60s, and even their 80s. The price for selling sex is about 20,000 to 30,000 won ($18-26), or even less if the man is a regular client. Per testimony, about 400 women work in Jongmyo Park in Seoul. Younger men in their 20s to 40s are also becoming clients.
Contents
Background
In a Confucian society like South Korea, elderly parents were respected, and in their old age could traditionally have relied on their children. However, with recent rapid changes in society, attitudes of children have changed dramatically. There is no welfare system that works effectively in South Korea. These elderly women have no savings, no realistic pension, and no family to rely on. The poverty rate of women aged over 65 in South Korea is 47.2%, the highest among the OECD countries. This figure rises to 76.6% for single elderly women.