Sex Trafficking: Biking Seoul to Busan to Raise Money and Awareness

SEOUL, Korea -- A group of cyclists will ride from Seoul to Busan to raise awareness about sex trafficking in Korea. The Ride Against Traffick will be from August 20-25, biking about 100km per day along the newly-finished Four Rivers Cycle Path.

Peter Palma, pastor of Word of Life International Fellowship in Incheon, is organizing the 600-kilometer ride in support of Hope Be Restored and Jerusalem Ministry, two organizations based in Seoul. The ride will raise money for these organizations through individual and corporate sponsors.  

“Human trafficking has become the third-largest criminal industry in the world: there are at least 27 million slaves worldwide. Korea is hardly immune with as many as one million Korean women believed to be sex slaves. Korean women are the number-one sex trafficked victims in America, Australia and Japan,” said Palma. “We want Korean citizens to know that their daughters are being sold to brothels all around the world.”

Hope Be Restored (HBR) has been a leading voice in the justice movement in Korea since its inception in January of 2011. Birthed out of Onnuri Church, HBR has partnered with many international and local organizations committed to ending slavery in this generation. Funds from the ride will be used in the prevention, intervention and aftercare of trafficking victims.

Jerusalem Ministry is an NGO started in 2006 for the sake of orphans in Seoul. Earlier this year, they started Seeds of Hope, a college scholarship fund to help orphans continue their education. Orphans worldwide are among the most victimized by traffickers, and Korean orphans are no exception. Without financial support, many are left with no choice but to work in jobs where they are vulnerable to traffickers.    

This group of cyclists consists mostly of foreigners from various English churches in Seoul and Incheon. Cyclists will stay at local saunas and motels along the trail.  

Upon arriving in Busan, the group would like to publicly screen Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, an award-winning documentary about sex trafficking. “This is a powerful film that reveals the evil of modern day sex slavery, and offers hope for freedom and restoration,” said Palma. 

For more information on the ride and how you can sponsor a cyclist, go to www.rideagainsttraffick.org

The screening of Nefarious will be held at 7pm at Hosanna Church in Busan Myeongji Campus. Residents who would like to host or attend the screening can email Palma at rideagainsttraffick@gmail.com

Related:
UN Statistics on Human Trafficking (.pdf)
War on International Sex Trafficking (Huff Post)

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