Reimagining the Brothel as a Therapeutic Space

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Location: Seoul, South Korea

Type: Undergraduate Thesis [1st Prize], Sejong University

Year: 2017

Professor: Piljoon Jeon

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In metropolitan areas, there exist diverse social problems including prostitution. In 2004, South Korea's government established a special law on prostitution to prohibit prevalent sex businesses. However, the result was a balloon effect; brothels moved to other areas outside of law enforcement control. Bangseok House is one typology of an old Korean brothel from the 1900s that is still secretly pervasive in Seoul.

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This project suggests transforming the old deteriorated brothel into a therapeutic space, based on recent research of the actual existing usage of Bangseok House. In this reimagining, the closed spaces become open to the public with curved walls. Now, the brothel is a therapist.       

 

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