“I’d like South Korea to be more open about sex,” said entrepreneur Lee Hee-tae, as he ventured into the porn industry, advocating for open discussions on sex and sexuality in a deeply conservative South Korean society.
The entrepreneur recalled that when he informed his parents about his decision to enter the adult entertainment business, he urged them to set aside concerns about social disapproval and focus on the financial benefits.
With domestic demand plus a growing global fascination with South Korea, thanks to booming K-pop and K-drama exports, the adult entertainment industry also has economic potential, Lee said.
How is Lee trying to change the tide on adult content in South Korea? Let’s take a closer look
Fighting the sex ’taboo’
Lee said due to its rigid cultural norms, the country is falling behind its neighbour Japan which is slowly and steadily embracing the evolving adult film industry.
South Korea produces around 2,000 adult movies a year, compared with what Lee’s research indicates is 2,000 a day made by Tokyo’s $36.5-billion-dollar
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
