South Korea's first ever sex expo opened despite protests in the country’s capital Thursday. The four-day event, however, was without its planned lingerie fashion shows and striptease displays.
The 2006 Seoul Sex Education Expo, dubbed “Sexpo,” has sparked controversy in the ultra conservative country where public discussions of sex have long been taboo due to its strong Confucian values.
According to NewsCom, “organizers originally planned to stage striptease and lingerie shows, as well as educational seminars and exhibitions of sex toys and erotic underwear during the event.
“In the face of strong protests, mainly by women's rights organizations, the organizers cancelled strip and lingerie shows that had been scheduled to open the event.”
Organizers told NewsCom that the cancellations were also because of a visa mix-up; the foreign models and performers arrived in South Korea with tourist, rather than entertainment visas. Foreigners in South Korea are not allowed to perform in any shows without entertainment visas.
“The event is primarily focused on educational programs rather than the sensational exposure of sex, and provides sex education,” Park Seung-gak, the expo's main organizer, told NewsCom.
