Sex Among Allies: Military Prostitution in U.S.-Korea Relations

by Katharine H.S. Moon

This study examines and illuminates how the lives of Korean prostitutes in the 1970s served as the invisible underpinnings to US-Korean military policies at the highest level.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231106432
• ISBN13: 9780231106436
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Camptown Prostitution Uncovered

Moon writes that prostitution in South Korea in and around the many American military bases were sponsored and regulated jointly by the governments of the United States and the Republic of Korea in an effort to advance a "friendly" relationship between the two countries in the 1970s. These kijich'on (Camptown) prostitutes were an integral part of the tensions and negotiations between the US and the ROK, as they served as tools in the "promotion of the two governments' bilateral security issues" (Moon, Sex among Allies 2). The Nixon Doctrine and the "Camptown Clean-Up Campaign" involuntarily "drew the [kijich'on prostitutes] women into the process of foreign policy implementation" (Moon, Sex among Allies 149). They played a vital role in promoting the mutual interests of the two nations (Moon, Sex among Allies 1). Thus, both governments viewed military prostitution, as a means to advance the alliance between the two countries and "to keep the U.S. soldiers `who fight so hard for the freedom of the South Korean people' happy" (Moon, Sex among Allies 2) Moon does not present the kijich'on prostitutes as mere victims, but contends that they were transnational actors. She further asserts that the "personal is international" and that individuals without significant resources or substantial control over issues can be political actors in international relations (Moon, Sex among Allies 160). Moon's work examines Kijich'on women's role as a significant political player with resource (sex) and as "instruments of foreign policy" (12) in making U.S. - Korea relations in the context of Nixon Doctrine in the early 1970's. She refines transnational studies (Keohane and Nye), the bureaucratic politics models (Kardam and Whitworth), organization studies (Weiss and Gordenker), Huntington and Lasswell's garrison-state model (126), and feminist analysis of foreign policy (Cynthia Enloe) by reframing specific local actors of military prostitution as international actors in policymaking. Moon also intervenes in the field of Korean Studies. Traditionally studies of Korea have focused on the political structures, policy formulation and implementation, and elite decision makers (politicians). This examination of kijich'on prostitutes joins other more recent scholarly works (like those of Laura Kendall and Martina Deuchler) that have begun to look beneath the political history at areas such as culture, gender, religion, and class. As a function of methodology, she employs an Interdisciplinary approach (feminist studies; foreign policy; history; culture). She utilizes a wide range of sources in both English and Korean. She draws on interviews with kijich'on prostitutes and former military personnel, congressional documents, US and ROK military documents, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and pamphlets.

Mind opening, thought provking

The Korea we knew as military troops was only a spot on the map. Did any of us take the time to understand the people we interfaced with, How our culture interwined with theres. This book is thought provking and brings many issues to the surface. A chance for our troops to understand the whole picture.

an important work

This book gives an excellent history of US-ROK relations re: the US military troops in S. Korea. It also gives a vivid and detailed snapshot of the harsh, and sometimes brutal and tragic lives, of military prostitutes in the "camptowns." And finally, it provides international backdrop, context and setting of the Nixon doctrine, S. Korea's regime during the 1960's and 1970's, and aspects about the political economy. There is such a dearth of information on all these subjects taken from the POV of these women and on this topic, that I give this book 4 stars because it finally sheds light on a little-known area. It is indeed very well-written and informative. I felt I learned much about the macro and micro worlds of the US military in S. Korea from a very different and neglected perspective. Unfortunately, it's not a history book, but a sociological study. There, I would have to say is the book's weakness. The author's argument is that the women are not just "passive victims" but rather, "players" who played an indispensable role in US-ROK relations. She builds her argument by pointing out that typical state-to-state relations involving elites, government institutions, and "men in suits" fail to address how non-elite, lower-level "actors" play a role and how international policies not only impinge on their bodies but also how they express some "agency," or autonomy by the women themselves. This comes off as a somewhat exaggerated argument, tenuous at best, and only plausible in the ideal world of academia. It seems more like she is trying to set up a "straw person" argument that combines feminist theory, organizational theory, and sociological analysis. All fine and good for the acedmics, but I wasn't very convinced as a lay reader. What agency can you really give to women who are forced to prostitute their bodies? What power and resistance can one have by selling sex? To her credit, she does admit that their power is limited and that they are don't have much say. But still, the argumentis more to convince her advisory panel for her Ph.D dissertation than the general public. I think the power of her book remains the fact that she has given voice to an "invisible" segment of women who have been discriminated and neglected, and shown how the US-ROK military relationship very much involves them. I wouldn't use the word "player" because it connotes or implies more "agency" than they have, but again, this seems more to be a political academic thing that the author is trying to make that is irrelevent to the very major contribution she has made. I think that as long as you learn something from this book, which you will, it is definitely a must-read for those who wish to examine US-ROK relations.

Excellent Reading

This book of personal research is done excellently. It describes how the Korean Prostitutes in and around military installations in Korea were treated and harassed on a almost daily basis. This was not only done by the Korean National Police but also by the Military and Security Police of the U.S. Military. It also talks about how the woman of these camp towns were treated and abused by the South Korean government and were used as a pawn chip in a much larger game - Politics. They were used to help the Korean Government keep the United States in the country and not withdraw their forces, but also help deter the North Korean threat of invasion. I could relate to this matter, based on firsthand knowledge of what went on and what I saw on a daily basis while stationed there for 15 months. It is a very interesting reading especially for people who have been stationed in Korea and know first hand how the whole situation works. This book will give people insight on how things operated in order for other governments to keep our military within their own country; even if it meant that certain people were going to get hurt or if people were going to be disgraced.